OLYMPICS

Look of London

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 919W, on Look of London, who was responsible for drawing up the estimate for the funding allocated to the Look of London while hosting the 2012 Olympic Games; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: An allowance of £40 million for street dressing and cleaning to improve the Look of London was included in the original public sector funding package announced in 2003 and was reported by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in their Third Report of Session 2002-03 "A London Olympic Bid for 2012" HC 268. The allowance was estimated by DCMS and was based on spending in Manchester on the Commonwealth Games. The allowance was revised downwards to £32 million, as a result of the cost review carried out by DCMS after the bid was won, and this amount was included in the revised public sector funding package that I announced on 15 March 2007. The expenditure on Look of London is not programmed until 2011-12 and 2012-13 and the details of how and to what extent the funds from this allowance will be drawn on will be determined before then.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Northern Ireland Certification Officer

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what meetings the Electoral Commission has had with the Northern Ireland Certification Officer since the establishment of the commission.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has had no meetings with the Northern Ireland Certification Officer.

Political Parties: Donors

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2007,  Official Report, column 351W, on political parties: donors, on what date the most recent version of the donation and loans guidance was sent to each political party.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that the guidance was published on 1 September 2006. A letter was sent on 8 September 2006 to all registered party treasurers in Great Britain announcing the publication of the guidance and its availability on the commission's website.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 922W, on political parties: finance, on what date the document, "Donations and loans: guidance for political parties in Great Britain" was sent to the Registered Treasurer of each registered political party; and whether the document was emailed or posted.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that the guidance was published on 1 September 2006. A letter was sent by post on 8 September 2006 to all registered party treasurers in Great Britain announcing the publication of the guidance and its availability on the commission's website.

WALES

Departmental Christmas Cards

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on  (a) Christmas cards and  (b) postage of Christmas cards in 2007.

Peter Hain: My Department spent £710.83 on Christmas cards in 2007.
	Postage records are not in a format that allows individual items to be singled out. This could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Contracts

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the  (a) objective and  (b) value was of each contract placed with (i) Deloitte and Touche, (ii) Ernst and Young, (iii) KPMG, (iv) PricewaterhouseCoopers and (v) PA Consulting by his Department in each year since 2004-05.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office has not entered into any contracts, consultancies or other services with the aforementioned companies since 2004-05.

Departmental Data Protection

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether personal data for which his Department is responsible is  (a) stored and  (b) processed overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: My Department does not store or process personal data overseas.

Departmental Databases

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what obligations his Department and its agencies place on contractors in relation to the audit of personal data and IT equipment.

Peter Hain: Within my Department, contractors have not conducted any audits of personal data.
	All IT is provided to my Department under Ministry of Justice (MOJ) PFI contracts. Any audits would meet with regulations issued by MOJ. To date there have been no IT audits.

Departmental Databases

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what audits his Department carried out in relation to personal data and IT equipment in each of the last 10 years.

Peter Hain: My Department has not carried out any audits on personal data in the last 10 years.
	Since 2004 all IT equipment within my Department has been provided under Ministry of Justice PFI contracts. There have been no audits within that time.
	Prior to 2004 IT equipment was provided by the Welsh Assembly Government. The information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether any of his Department's special advisers also work for organisations outside his Department.

Peter Hain: Neither of my special advisers work for any outside organisations.

Departmental Pay

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what salary each of his Department's Ministers drew  (a) in 2006-07 and  (b) since July 2007.

Peter Hain: Ministerial salaries are paid in accordance with the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975. Details of ministerial salaries are available at:
	http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/m06.pdf
	and in the Library of the House.

English Language

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available.

Peter Hain: Nil.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Domestic Violence

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what plans the Government has to increase support for families affected by domestic violence.

Barbara Follett: Action on the National Domestic Violence Plan, including the delivery of support to victims and their families, is monitored through the Inter-departmental Ministerial Group on Domestic Violence, on which I sit.
	A lot has been done to improve and increase the support available for families affected by domestic violence:
	This year, the Home Office has allocated just under £6 million to tackle domestic violence including £2 million to support and improve local delivery on domestic violence for victims and their children and funding for improved public protection arrangements for domestic violence victims and a matrix of help lines to provide advice and support to victims and their families.
	The Ministry of Justice has allocated £3 million for Independent Domestic Violence Advisers whose aim is the safety and support of victims and their children. This is in addition to annual court business costs.
	The Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme aims to improve the welfare of all children by putting in place arrangements for earlier and more effective assessment and intervention for vulnerable children, such as those affected by domestic violence.
	Communities and Local Government has developed a range of accommodation options for victims including Sanctuary scheme guidance, and £61 million of Supporting People funds were used by local authorities in 2006-07 to provide housing related support for victims of domestic violence and their families.
	Guidance available for Jobcentre Plus staff provides advice about domestic violence and its potential impact on victims, explains the sorts of support they may need and provides advice on taking account of their particular circumstances when dealing with a benefit application. The guidance also has contact details of a range of organizations which provide advice and support to domestic violence victims.
	Financial support in respect of children, such as child benefit and child tax credits, is paid to the person who is responsible for those children and is often already paid directly to mothers. Where there is any family breakdown, the benefits will, where necessary, normally be transferred to the person with whom the children are residing.
	Domestic violence tears apart families and always negatively impacts on children. The Government recognise the strong links between child protection concerns and domestic violence. Victims leaving a violent relationship will often need a range of financial and practical support for themselves and their children. The Inter-departmental Ministerial Group will continue to monitor this aspect of delivery.

Equality

Jo Swinson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality whether a racial impact assessment was carried out on the decision to reform the Women and Equality Unit as the Government Equalities Office.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 13 December 2007
	 No. The decision to create the Government Equalities Office did not in itself require a race equality impact assessment.

Human Trafficking

Theresa May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what estimate she has made of the number of trafficked people who arrived in the UK in each of the last five years, broken down by  (a) country of origin and  (b) sex; and how many of these were (i) British and (ii) foreign nationals.

Barbara Follett: The most up to date estimate suggests that at any one time in 2003 there were approximately 4,000 victims of trafficking for prostitution in the UK.
	However, no research has been undertaken which would provide a basis for estimates of the number of trafficked people arriving in the UK in the last five years broken down by  (a) country of origin or  (b) sex, or for estimates on how many of these victims were (i) British or (ii) foreign nationals.
	We do know that the top four nationalities of victims referred to the Poppy project are Lithuania/Albania/Nigeria and Thailand. The project has found that the largest number of referrals are for women aged between 17-25 years.

Religion: Harassment

Jo Swinson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what the Government's policy is on the introduction of a religious harassment offence covering insulting or abusive language.

Barbara Follett: The Government introduced statutory protection from harassment on grounds of religion or belief in employment and vocational training in 2003, as part of the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations. As a consequence, where an individual is subjected to unwanted conduct in the workplace, which violates their dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading or offensive environment for them, they have recourse to a civil remedy through employment tribunal.
	As part of the Discrimination Law Review, we recently consulted on the possibility of extending similar statutory protection from harassment on grounds of religion or belief in the provision of goods, facilities and services, education in schools, the management or disposal of premises and in the exercise of public functions.
	The Government Equalities Office is currently analysing over 4,000 responses which were received as a result of the consultation, and we will carefully consider the views expressed in these responses before any decisions are taken.
	The aim of any provisions in this area would be to clarify the existing protection from less favourable treatment because of a person's religion or belief when accessing goods, facilities or services, offered by part 2 (religion or belief) of the Equality Act 2006. If we decided to legislate in this area, it would not affect social interaction between private individuals, or prevent proselytising in the street. As with the employment provisions, harassment provisions in this context would give rise to civil remedies, not create any criminal offences of religious harassment.
	The separate, criminal offence of incitement to religious hatred came into force on 1 October 2007. This covers threatening words and behaviour which is intended to stir up religious hatred.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Members: Pay

Nigel Evans: To ask the Leader of the House what the cost of the Senior Salary Review Body's most recent review of hon. Members' and Ministers' pay was.

Harriet Harman: The current cost of the review is £136,296 and covers SSRB Members' fees, and travel and subsistence, and consultancy costs. The cost of publishing the report has not been finalised.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Archaeology: Finance

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport why funding for the Portable Antiquities Scheme was not ring-fenced in the Comprehensive Spending Review; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: holding answer 7 January 2008
	The Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) is funded by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and so any decisions on its funding are a matter for the MLA. The MLA has already committed to maintain current levels of support for the scheme for 2008-09. Since the 2004 spending review, the Department's funding allocation to the MLA has not included ring-fencing for the PAS.

Casinos: Planning Permission

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to bring forward proposals to authorise the development of 16 small and large casinos; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In July 2007 the Secretary of State wrote to the 16 licensing authorities recommended for the eight large and eight small casinos to see if they still wished to license a casino. Ministers are now considering the next steps.

Culture

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the role of the cultural ambassador for the United Kingdom is; if he will break down the allocated budget by mission statement priorities; and what prior discussions were held with the British Council on respective responsibilities and avoiding duplication.

Margaret Hodge: The World Collections programme, which will be chaired by Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum, (acting as a cultural ambassador for the UK), will share the best of British cultural excellence and expertise with museums in Africa and Asia.
	The programme will receive £3 million over three years from April 2008. This will be spent on supporting activities agreed by the six partner organisations (British Museum, British Library, Tate, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Natural History Museum and V&A) with further details to be determined.
	We have worked closely with the British Council and others in developing this programme, which is fully supported by all involved.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the Winter Supplementary Estimates (HC 29), if he will break down his Department's  (a) main estimate and  (b) winter supplementary estimate provision by subhead in (i) near cash and (ii) non-cash terms.

Margaret Hodge: Near-cash and non-cash are essentially used as Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) budgetary control concepts and are not specifically identified with voted resources in Estimates. However, we have been able to break down net total resources for each section in the Part II: Subhead detail table of our Main and Winter Supplementary Estimates.
	Line F, funding for the Royal Parks Agency in RfR1 includes non-cash costs of £2.571 million which did not increase in the Winter Supplementary Estimate. Similarly Line 1, relating to Administration and Research has non-cash costs totalling £5.947 million that have not increased in year. All other provision in the Estimate is near cash.

Domestic Visits

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list each event attended by the Minister for Sport in an official role since June; and what the cost of facilitating attendance was in each case.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The following table lists each event I have attended in an official role since June 2007:
	
		
			   Date   Event 
			 6 July Langley House Trust Awards Ceremony, Bradford 
			 8 July British Grand Prix, Silverstone 
			 17 July Northampton Racecourse Park Changing Facilities Opening Launch 
			 28 July Bulls vs St. Helens, Challenge Cup Semi Final, Huddersfield 
			 3 August Grand Prix Athletics, Crystal Palace 
			 4 August England vs Wales, Twickenham. 
			 5 August Manchester United vs Chelsea (Charity Shield), Wembley 
			 25 August St. Helens vs Catalan Dragons, Carnegie Challenge Cup Final, Wembley 
			 26 August UK School Games, Coventry 
			 5 September Your Game reception, 11 Downing Street 
			 6-September Visit to Warrington Town FC and Warrington Wolves 
			 7 September Junior Whitter vs Vivian Harris, Doncaster 
			 12 September England vs Russia, Wembley Stadium 
			 14 September England vs South Africa, Stade de France 
			 15 September Racing at Doncaster 
			 2 October British Olympic Association Annual Ball, London 
			 8 October Boston Celtics Reception, Foreign Office 
			 9 October Gamcare Annual Conference, London 
			 10 October Boston Celtics vs Minnesota Timberwolves NBA exhibition match, 02 Arena, London 
			 13 October Super League Grand Final, Old Trafford 
			 15 October Annual Outstanding Service to Cricket Awards, Lords Cricket Ground 
			 16 October Visit to English Institute of Sport, Loughborough 
			 17 October Wheel Appeal Launch, London 
			 20 October England vs South Africa World Cup final, Paris 
			 22 October Boxing Writers Club dinner, London 
			 24 October EU Sports Ministers Conference, Estoril, Portugal 
			 30 October Responsibility in Gambling Trust Seminar, London 
			 1 November FT Sports Industry Cocktail Reception, London 
			 2 November Sport and Recreation Association Moulin Rouge Charity dinner, Bradford 
			 3 November Joe Calzaghe vs Mikkel Kessler, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 
			 7 November Visit to Olympic Park, Stratford 
			 8 November Visit to Silverstone Circuit 
			 12 November World Class Coaching Conference dinner, Sutton Coldfield 
			 13 November Stewards of the National Greyhound Club Dinner, London 
			 14 November Society and the Value of Sport Conference, London 
			 14 November Remote Gambling Association AGM, London 
			 14 November Business in Sport and Leisure Lunch, London 
			 15 November World Anti-Doping in Sport Conference, Madrid 
			 20 November Institute of Licensing Conference, Bristol. Visit to Bath University sports facilities 
			 21 November England vs Croatia, Wembley 
			 22 November BACTA Convention, London 
			 24 November Visit to Haydock racecourse 
			 26 November Visit to Fulham FC training ground, New Malden 
			 28 November DCLG Living Places Launch, London 
			 28 November Surf Life Saving Great Britain and rescue 2010 Great Britain reception, London 
			 29 November Angling Awards Ceremony, London 
			 2 December PFA Centenary Event, Manchester 
			 3 December Yorkshire Sports Awards, Brigg 
			 5 December Launch of Coping Through Football, Emirates Stadium, London 
			 6 December Queensbury Rugby League Dinner, Bradford 
			 9 December BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Birmingham 
			 12 December Sports Journalists Association Award Lunch, London 
			 12 December Annual UK Coaching Awards, London 
			 15 December Red card against racism event, Valley Parade, Bradford 
			 19 December BBC Sports Weeks Lunch 
		
	
	Details of costs for each individual case is not held centrally by the Department. However, details of any expenditure in 2007-08 will be available when the Department's resource accounts are fully audited and laid before Parliament.
	All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers.

Music: Young People

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department has  (a) taken since 1997 and  (b) plans to take in each of the next three years to make music studios more accessible to young people; what discussions he has had since June 2007 with representatives of the music industry about this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Government recognise the importance of young, developing musicians having access to affordable and professional facilities to rehearse and perform live music. That is why, following a recommendation by the Live Music Forum, we recently asked Feargal Sharkey, the ex-chair of the Forum, to work with local authorities, the music industry and other partners over the next two years to establish a number of pilot music rehearsal spaces across the country. £500,000 has been allocated to assist with the cost of setting up these pilots. In the longer term, we will continue to explore what other funding streams may be available for this purpose, such as our proposed unclaimed assets scheme. As part of this initiative, my officials have spoken to representatives of the British phonographic industry, the Association of Independent Music and Sony BMG Music Entertainment (UK) who have agreed to assist.

Olympic Games 2012: National Lottery

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of National Lottery funding for good causes will be allocated to hosting the London 2012 Olympic Games in each relevant year.

James Purnell: As announced on 15 March 2007, and subject to parliamentary approval, we intend to transfer £1,085 million from the national lottery distribution fund to the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund. The profile of these transfers by year is as follows:
	
		
			£ million 
			 2008-09 73 
			 2009-10 292 
			 2010-11 292 
			 2011-12 292 
			 2012-13 136 
		
	
	In addition, the Sport Lottery distributors will be spending £340 million on Olympic-related projects, the profile of which is at their discretion; and £750 million is being raised from dedicated Olympic Lottery products from 2005-06, the timing of which is dependent on the commercial view of the operator and the regulator.
	On current projections, the £2,175 million total contribution to the Olympics represents less than 20 per cent. of expected Lottery income over the eight years from 2005-06 to 2012-13.

Tourism

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions  (a) he and  (b) the Minister for Tourism has met (i) VisitBritain, (ii) the Tourism Alliance and (iii) other tourism related organisations in the last 12 months.

Margaret Hodge: Over the last 12 months my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and his predecessor held the following meetings:
	
		
			Meeting 
			 22 January 2007 Meeting with Christopher Rodrigues, Chairman, Visit Britain 
			 12 March 2007 Attended the launch British Tourism week 
			 13 March 2007 Attended the British Travel Fair in Birmingham 
			 24 April 2007 Meeting with Christopher Rodrigues, Visit Britain 
			 18 July 2007 Meeting with Christopher Rodrigues and Tom Wright, Visit Britain 
			 7 August 2007 Meeting with the Tourism Industry Emergency Response group (TIER) 
			 14 August 2007 Breakfast meeting with TIER 
			 18 October 2007 Meeting with Christopher Rodrigues and Tom Wright, Visit Britain 
			 15 November 2007 Meeting with Brian Wisdom, People 1st 
		
	
	I and my predecessor held the following meetings:
	
		
			Meeting 
			 30 November 2006 Speaking at the Business in Sport and Leisure Conference 
			 17 January 2007 Meeting with the Business Tourism Partnership Forum 
			 24 January 2007 Meeting with the Tourism Management Institute, Destination Performance UK, Tourism Society, Institute of Leisure and Amenities Management and British Resort and Destinations Association 
			 19 January 2007 Meeting with Christopher Rodrigues, VisitBritain 
			 19 January 2007 MAG Meeting 
			 19 January 2007 Meeting with Tom Wright, VisitBritain 
			 7 March 2007 4th Tourism Skills Summit 
			 12 March 2007 Attended the Launch of British Tourism Week 
			 27 March 2007 MAG Meeting 
			 18 April 2007 Meeting with the Tourism Alliance 
			 30 April 2007 Meeting with Grant Hearn, Travelodge Ltd. 
			 2 May 2007 Meeting with Grant Hearn, Travelodge Ltd. 
			 9 May 2007 MAG Meeting 
			 14 May 2007 The British Holiday and Home Parks Association, and Norfolk tourism businesses representatives 
			 8 June 2007 Liverpool tourism business representatives 
			 18 June 2007 Dudley tourism business representatives 
			 21 June 2007 MAG Meeting 
			 11 July 2007 Meeting with TIER 
			 17 July 2007 Meeting with Bob Cotton, British Hospitality Association, and Brigid Simmonds, Business in Sport and Leisure 
			 18 July 2007 Meeting with Ros Pritchard, British Holiday and Home Parks Association and Peter Hampson, British Resort and Destinations 
			 18 July 2007 Meeting with Christopher Rodrigues and Tom Wright, Visit Britain 
			 19 July 2007 Meeting with Hugh Taylor, Hilton Group 
			 25 July 2007 The British Educational Travel Association Summer Reception 
			 11 September 2007 Meeting with the Tourism Alliance 
			 17 September 2007 Launch of the DCMS Tourism Strategy for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games 
			 10 October 2007 Launch of Partners 4 England 
			 16 October 2007 National Visitor Attractions Conference 
			 16 October 2007 Meeting with Destination Performance UK and Tourism Together 
			 18 October 2007 Meeting with Tom Wright and Christopher Rodrigues, VisitBritain 
			 22 October 2007 Land Use Planning and Tourism Regional Seminar 
			 25 October 2007 Meeting with Michael Hirst and Representatives from the Events Sector 
			 12 November 2007 Meeting with Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Board 
			 15 November 2007 Breakfast Meeting with the Tourism Alliance 
			 26 November 2007 Meeting with Bob Cotton of British Hospitality Association 
			 28 November 2007 Launch of the Good Employer Guide 
			 28 November 2007 National Skills Strategy Monitoring and Implementation Group 
			 29 November 2007 Meeting with Tom Wright and Christopher Rodrigues (CSR) 
			 3 December 2007 Visitor Attractions Forum 
			 5 December 2007 Tourism APPG Dinner 
			 13 December 2007 VisitBritain Board Meeting

Tourist Information: Rural Areas

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tourism information centres in rural areas have been closed in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Margaret Hodge: Figures on an annual basis by local authority area are not available.

Television Licensing

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pensioners over 75 years in Hendon have free television licences.

James Purnell: TV Licensing, which administers free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, is not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in the Hendon constituency in 2006-07 was 5,820, according to the records of the Department for Work and Pensions.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies: Head Teachers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the National Professional Qualification for Headship will be compulsory for all new head teachers of academies, including those changing schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The National Professional Qualification for Headship is not compulsory for new head teachers of Academies. However, we would expect all Academies to have robust policies in place for the performance management and continuing professional development of all staff.

Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many section 7 cases were completed by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in each of the last five financial years; and what the cost was of such work;
	(2)  which Children and Family Court and Advisory Support Service regions will be recruiting additional staff during the 2007-08 financial year; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such additional staff;
	(3)  what plans he has to recalculate workload measurements for Children and Family Court and Advisory Support Service staff; and whether this will involve additional expenditure;
	(4)  on how many occasions Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service staff were involved in early intervention or dispute resolution during the financial year 2007-08; and what the cost was of such work.

Kevin Brennan: These are matters for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS). Anthony Douglas, the Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Anthony Douglas, dated 9 December 2007:
	I am writing to you in response to the four Parliamentary Questions that you tabled recently:
	175760—To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many section 7 cases were completed by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in each of the last five financial years; and what the cost was of such work.
	175759—To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, which Children and family Court Advisory Support Service regions will be recruiting additional staff during the current financial year, and what the estimated cost is of such additional staff.
	175758—To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what plans he has to recalculate workload measurements for children and Family Court and Advisory Support Service staff; and whether this will involve additional expenditure.
	Another MP (Ms Julie Morgan, Parliamentary Questions 162332, 162296 and 162297) has asked similar questions for the above three parliamentary questions. A response was sent on 3 December 2007 and a copy can be found in the House Library.
	175761—To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, on how many occasions Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service staff were involved in early intervention or dispute resolution during the financial year 2007-08; and what the cost was of such work.
	We have provided figures from April 2007 to end of November 2007 in the table below. However, as Unit Costs are calculated at the end of each financial year we have used the Unit Cost figures from 2006-07, therefore these figures should be considered as indicative only. The cost has been calculated by multiplying the number of hours spent on Dispute Resolution in the year by the Unit Cost(1) (2006-07) for an hour of practitioner activity. Statistics do not currently fully capture all case related support activity and we plan a diary survey in the spring which will enable us to make more accurate calculations and calculate averages in respect of time taken on such work. Related activity in screening cases coming before the courts prior to embarking on Dispute Resolution is also not included in these figures but plays an important part in ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place.
	
		
			   Financial year   Total dispute resolution hours   Unit cost (£ per hour)(  1)   Total cost (£) 
			 April 2007 to November 2007 (does not incl. Wales) 47,642 50 2,382,100 
			 (1 )Unit costs are calculated at the end of each financial year dividing the total Direct(2) spend for the Organisation by the estimated number of hours spent on Public and Private Law cases completed in the year. As unit costs are not available for the period April to November 2007 we have used the unit cost for 2006/07. (2 )Direct spend only includes costs directly linked to practice e.g. Staff Salary, Training, Travel and Subsistence. It does not include indirect costs e.g. Accommodation, Recruitment and Utilities. 
		
	
	Another MP (Ms Julie Morgan Parliamentary Question 162333) has asked a similar question for the above parliamentary question. A response was sent on 3 December 2007 and a copy can be found in the House Library.
	A copy of this reply will be placed in the House Library.

Education: Isle of Wight

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2007,  Official Report, column 630W, on education: Isle of Wight, for what reason the recent presentation by his Department's officials on challenges facing schools on the Isle of Wight described schools reorganisation as necessary; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The presentation given by DCSF officials on 15 November 2007 was given on the basis of existing proposals, then under consideration. The Department did not recommend the re-organisation of schools on the Isle of Wight but it was stated that re-organisation on its own would probably not be sufficient to raise the standards of attainment in the authority's schools. It was made clear that any decision to reorganise would be entirely for local decision within the Isle of Wight, but that the problems in relation to school under-performance were immediate and re-organisation alone will not be sufficient to resolve them.

Pupils: Assessments

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of school pupils in Hendon achieved  (a) level 4 or above at key stage 2 and  (b) level 5 or above at key stage 3 in (i) English, (ii) mathematics, (iii) science and (iv) English, mathematics and science in 2007.

Jim Knight: The latest available information is set out in the following tables:
	
		
			   Percentage of school pupils achieving level 4 or above at key stage 2, 2007 
			Percentage of pupils achieving level 4 plus 
			English   Mathematics   Science   English, mathematics and science 
			 Hendon 85 80 89 75 
			 England 80 77 88 71 
			   Notes:  1. Revised data.  2. England figures are based on all schools. 
		
	
	
		
			   Percentage of school pupils achieving level 5 or above at key stage 3, 2006 
			Percentage of pupils achieving level 5 plus 
			English   Mathematics   Science   English, mathematics and science 
			 Hendon 81 82 77 71 
			 England 73 77 72 63 
			   Notes:  1. Final data.  2. England figures are based on all schools. 
		
	
	Key stage 3 2007 revised data are scheduled for publication in February 2008.

Schools: Admissions

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many appeals were lodged by parents against non-admission of their children to schools in Barnet in the last year for which figures are available; what percentage of appeals were successful; where Barnet ranks in each case in relation to other local education authorities in  (a) London and  (b) England; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Information from the School Census and Admission Appeals Survey shows that in 2005/06, the latest year for which data is available, there were 66 appeals lodged by parents against non-admission to primary schools in Barnet local authority, 42.9 per cent. of which were successful; and 704 appeals lodged by parents against non-admissions to secondary schools in Barnet local authority, 24.9 per cent. of which were successful.
	In terms of the numbers of appeals lodged, Barnet local authority ranks:  (a) 20(th) out of 33 at primary and 4(th) out of 33 at secondary when compared with all London authorities; and  (b) 50(th) out of all 150 at primary and 18(th) out of all 150 at secondary when compared with all local authorities in England, where the authority ranked 1 has the highest number appeals lodged.
	In terms of the percentage of successful appeals, Barnet local authority ranks:  (a) 2(nd) out of 33 at primary and 4(th) out of 33 at secondary when compared with all London local authorities; and  (b) 50(th) out of 150 at primary and 105(th) out of 150 at secondary when compared with all local authorities in England, where the authority ranked 1 has the highest percentage of successful appeals.

Schools: Capital Investment

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which schools in Hendon have received capital funding from the Government since 1997; how much each school received; how much of that funding was for  (a) new school buildings and  (b) major repairs; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Capital allocations are made by the Department to local authorities and to schools, who prioritise how they are spent in local asset management plans. Departmental allocations may also be supplemented by other resources available locally. The Department does not impose conditions on how resources should be spent and, accordingly, does not keep records of the split between  (a) new school buildings and  (b) major repairs.
	Total allocations are recorded by the Department on a local authority basis, and Hendon lies within Barnet. Allocations to Barnet and its schools for the period 1997-98 to 2007-08 are set out in the following table:
	
		
			£ million 
			 1997-98 1.8 
			 1998-99 5.6 
			 1999-2000 3.9 
			 2000-01 11.9 
			 2001-02 7.5 
			 2002-03 15.9 
			 2003-04 12.0 
			 2004-05 18.5 
			 2005-06 15.1 
			 2006-07 41.4 
			 2007-08 13.6 
		
	
	Large changes in allocations from year to year are due to bid-based projects, and these supplement formulaic allocations. In 2004-05 and 2005-06, £6.8 million and £4.4 million was allocated respectively for Targeted Capital Fund projects. In 2006-07, an additional £28.4 million was allocated in respect of a Building Schools for the Future school pathfinder project.

Schools: Uniforms

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to ensure schools' uniform policies are fair, reasonable and inclusive.

Jim Knight: The Department published guidance in October 2007 which provides advice to schools on how to formulate fair, reasonable, affordable and inclusive school uniform policies.
	In addition, the School Admissions Code makes clear that all governing bodies must take steps to ensure that their policies, including school uniform policies, do not disadvantage certain social groups or discourage some groups of parents from applying for places.

Schools: Wolverhampton

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the merits of proposals to create project-based rather than discipline-based schools in Wolverhampton.

Jim Knight: I have made no assessment of the merits of these proposals. Schools are required to teach pupils all of the statutory content of the programmes of study for the compulsory subjects specified for each of the Key Stages.
	How schools design their curriculum and structure their teaching and learning to ensure that they meet the statutory requirements of the curriculum is entirely a matter for them. Wolverhampton schools will be expected to monitor the effectiveness of their project-based curriculum, while Ofsted will provide an external assessment.

Science: GCE A Levels

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent assessment he has made of  (a) the academic rigour of and  (b) the ability level required to study A level (i) physics and (ii) chemistry courses; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: It is for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) as the qualifications regulator to ensure maintenance of standards in A level, including the level of what is assessed and the rigour applied in doing so. QCA is robust in ensuring that standards are maintained: with reference to A levels, an OECD Independent Committee on exam standards concluded in late 2004 that:
	"No examination system at the school or other level is so tightly or carefully managed".
	Last year QCA accredited new A level specifications, including in physics and chemistry, which will be taught from September this year. As these are revised qualifications, QCA has proposed that it will take a more active role in monitoring the setting of the first question papers to ensure that standards are maintained.

Special Educational Needs: Manpower

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many special educational needs co-ordinators there were per pupil in each local authority in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many special educational needs co-ordinators were employed in maintained schools in each year since 2001.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Specialist Diplomas

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which schools in Hendon will offer the new diplomas from September 2008; what financial assistance they will receive from his Department to do so; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Schools, colleges and other providers wishing to offer the new Diplomas need to pass through a Gateway process, which assesses their readiness for doing so. We did not receive a Gateway application from schools in Hendon to offer the new Diplomas from September 2008. We have, however, received an application from a consortium in Barnet aiming to offer the Creative and Media Diploma from September 2009. This consortium includes Copthall School from Hendon. The London Academy is also a partner in a joint application to offer the Construction and Built Environment Diploma from a group of North London boroughs. We plan to announce the results of this year's Gateway exercise by the end of March and financial assistance will depend upon whether these applications are successful.
	Local authorities with pupils starting Diplomas in 2009 will receive funding for pupils taking Diplomas at Key Stage 4 through the Diploma grant and through the Dedicated Schools Grant. The Learning and Skills Council will provide funding for 16 to 18-year-olds taking Diplomas in sixth forms and colleges. Other support will also be provided to those who pass through the Gateway in March 2008 to ensure they are fully equipped to deliver from September 2009. This will include a comprehensive package of work force training and support, and a specific Gateway support grant to support Diploma and Functional Skills delivery.

PRIME MINISTER

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with Government officials on negotiations with the Taliban in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I have nothing further to add to my statement on Afghanistan on 12 December 2007,  Official Report, column 303.

Armed Forces: Deployment

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions and on what dates when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer he visited British troops deployed abroad.

Gordon Brown: Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of these lists are available in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces: Mental Health Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister whether his predecessor visited the combat stress centres at  (a) Tyrwhitt House,  (b) Hollybush House and  (c) Audley Court between 1 April and 26 June 2007.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor (right hon. Tony Blair) to the hon. Member for Forest of Dean (Mr. Harper) on 15 February 2006,  Official Report, column 2032W.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister whether any of his Department's special advisers also work for organisations outside his Department.

Gordon Brown: Special advisers are appointed under the terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract and Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

Departmental Redundancy

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister what the cost was of redundancies in his Office in the 12 months preceding  (a) 30 June 2004,  (b) 30 June 2005 and  (c) 30 June 2006.

Gordon Brown: I refer to the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Gillian Merron) today.

Lord Ashcroft

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister if he will instruct the Cabinet Secretary to respond to the request of the hon. Member for Pendle, made at the meeting of the Public Administration Select Committee on 15 November 2007, for information on the nature of the undertaking given by Michael Ashcroft in 2000 about his UK residence for tax purposes.

Gordon Brown: The Cabinet Secretary has replied to my hon. Friend.

Trade Unions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with trade unions officials on a future national policy forum.

Gordon Brown: My officials and I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a range of subjects.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Antisocial Behaviour Disorders

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland in 2007.

Paul Goggins: The relevant authorities have notified the Northern Ireland Office of 60 antisocial behaviour orders being granted in Northern Ireland since they were made available in August 2004. The relevant authorities have reported that nine of these orders were made in 2005, 32 in 2006 and 19 in 2007.
	
		
			   Location of antisocial behaviour orders 
			   Court area   Total number of ASBOs 
			 Antrim 2 
			 Ballymena 13 
			 Bangor 2 
			 Belfast 18 
			 Coleraine 3 
			 Craigavon 2 
			 Derry 3 
			 Downpatrick 2 
			 Dungannon 3 
			 Enniskillen 1 
			 Larne 3 
			 Lisburn 1 
			 Magherafelt 1 
			 Newry 3 
			 Newtownards 2 
			 Omagh 1 
		
	
	We do not collect data by parliamentary constituency.

Departmental Christmas Cards

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on  (a) Christmas cards and  (b) postage of Christmas cards in 2007.

Shaun Woodward: The following table gives a breakdown of the amount spent by the NIO on Christmas cards in 2007.
	
		
			   Christmas cards 2007 
			£ 
			 Secretary of State's cards 823 
			 Ministers' cards 576 
			 Total 1,399

Departmental Databases

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether personal data for which his Department is responsible is  (a) stored and  (b) processed overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland does not store or process personal data overseas.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any of his Department's special advisers also work for organisations outside his Department.

Shaun Woodward: My special advisers do not work for any outside organisations.

Emergency Calls

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many 999 calls were received by the Police Service of Northern Ireland  (a) in the year before the introduction of their non-emergency 0854 600 8000 number and  (b) between November 2006 and October 2007.

Paul Goggins: The PSNI introduced its non-emergency number 0845 600 8000 on 1 November 2005. Between November 2006 and October 2007, more than 173,000 calls were made to this number.
	The PSNI receives approximately 300,000 emergency 999 calls per annum.
	Complete information on the number of 999 calls received by the PSNI is available from June 2007. For the periods November 2004 to October 2005 and November 2006 to May 2007, information is only available for 999 calls received within PSNI's Urban region. Systems were not in place to collate the number of 999 calls received within Rural region during these periods. Systems were implemented for Rural region from June 2007 with the introduction of enhanced technology and the consolidation of rural control rooms.
	The figures do not permit comparisons to be made because of changes to district structures.
	The total number of 999 calls received on a monthly basis from June to October 2007 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   1997   Total 999 calls received by PSNI 
			 June 19,457 
			 July 20,788 
			 August 21,022 
			 September 20,124 
			 October 21,004

Fuels: Smuggling

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with police authorities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland on fuel smuggling; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: As Her Majesty's Treasury are the lead Department in respect of revenue fraud, HM Revenue and Customs have primacy in respect of fuel smuggling in Northern Ireland, and have strong and effective links with their counterparts in the Revenue Commissioners in the Republic of Ireland.
	I have had recent discussions through the Organised Crime Task Force with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and HM Revenue and Customs in respect of tackling fuel smuggling; law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border work in partnership to disrupt fuel smugglers, confiscate their illegal assets and bring them before the courts.

Immigration Controls

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the Home Department on the Common Travel Area; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: There is a review of the operation of the Common Travel Area under way at present. However, there is no question of ending the principle that Common Travel Area nationals are not subject to immigration control on the internal borders.
	I have had discussions with the Immigration Minister in the Home Office about the Common Travel Area. These discussions will continue as the review progresses. My officials are also in regular contact with their counterparts in the Home Office on this issue.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Graduates

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 5 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1212W, on Police Service of Northern Ireland: graduates, 
	(1)  if he will consider including educational qualifications as part of the Police Service of Northern Ireland recruitment process;
	(2)  if he will consider including educational qualifications as part of the Police Service of Northern Ireland recruitment process.

Paul Goggins: The recruiting process for regular constables assesses candidate competency against the role profile for the job. This is consistent with practice across the UK. Competencies tested reflect national standards and measure ability to perform the role. The Police Service of Northern Ireland is content that the recruiting process continues to meet best practice standards, and is confident that the police college student officer programme is comprehensive, robust and fit for purpose.
	There are therefore no plans to introduce academic qualifications as pre-entry criteria.

Prisoner Escapes

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners have escaped custody while on their way to court in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: No prisoners have escaped from the custody of prison staff while on their way to court in Northern Ireland during the last three years. However, a high risk prisoner escaped from the holding cells at Lisburn courthouse on 7 June 2005 while in the custody of Maybin Custodial Services. The escape was fully investigated. Every effort is now made to avoid sending high risk prisoners to Lisburn. If necessary, additional safeguards are put in place.

Prisons: Telephones

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what monitoring is undertaken of telephone calls made by inmates of Northern Ireland prisons.

Paul Goggins: In accordance with the prison rules, all telephone calls made by inmates in Northern Ireland prisons are recorded; they are randomly monitored for security reasons. The only exception to this is telephone calls to legal advisers and confidential calls to the Samaritans, Prisoner Ombudsman, Crimestoppers and addiction counsellors.

Regulation

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for which regulators and inspectorates his Department has had responsibility in each year since 1997; what the budget was of each such body in each year; and what the cost to the public purse was of any restructuring of each such body in each year.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office has responsibility for the following regulators/inspectorates since 1997.
	The cost of the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland was:
	
		
			£ 
			 2004-05 833,112 
			 2005-06 1,277,718 
			 2006-07 1,245,910 
		
	
	There were no costs for restructuring.
	In addition, the Prisoner Ombudsman has been in existence since 2005 and their budget incorporates a Secretariat function for the Independent Monitoring Board for prisons. This could be disaggregated only at disproportionate cost. There were no costs for restructuring.

Schools

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what procedure was used in selecting Mr. Vivian Thomas as consultant to the Bain Review; what remuneration he receives; and what role there was in the appointment process by his predecessor as Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for Neath.

Shaun Woodward: The Secretary of State ceased to be in charge of the Northern Ireland Departments on 8 May 2007 when devolution was restored and the Northern Ireland Executive took over responsibility. Papers relating to the appointment of Mr. Vivian Thomas are held by the Department of Education Northern Ireland which has been asked to provide me with the information requested by the hon. Member.

TRANSPORT

A1: Nottinghamshire

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of the removal of the final three roundabouts on the A1 in Nottinghamshire on the safety of access to the road.

Tom Harris: The Highways Agency presented a safety assessment for each of the three junction improvements on the A1 in Nottinghamshire at their respective public inquiries. These junctions are three of six roundabouts that will be improved as part of the A1 Peterborough to Blyth grade separated junction improvement scheme.
	The assessments indicate that safety will be improved as a result of the scheme. It will remove the existing roundabouts and replace them with new two-level junctions allowing the A1 traffic to pass straight through the junctions with slip roads providing links to local roads.
	It will remove conflicting traffic turning movements between the A1 and the local road network, reducing accidents and congestion.

Airports: Police

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost was to each local authority in London arising from the police service agreements for each designated airport servicing London in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Police service agreements are currently being finalised at the nine designated airports in the UK, including the three serving London—Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. The police costs set out in those agreements will be met by the airport operator and not local authorities.

Aviation: Mobile Phones

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions have taken place between the Civil Aviation Authority and her Department on mobile telephone use in aeroplanes.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department sought information from the Civil Aviation Authority in July 2007 on the European Aviation Safety Agency certification of airborne global system for mobile communications (GSM), and this was provided.

Aviation: Mobile Phones

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the policy of  (a) her Department and  (b) the Civil Aviation Authority is on the use of mobile telephones in aeroplanes.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department's policy is not to object to the use of mobile telephones in aeroplanes, provided that the CAA states that their use is safe. The installation of systems that enable the use of mobile phones is a matter for individual airlines, who will take the views of their passengers into account.
	The safety policy of the CAA is set out in the CAA's Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) No. 1/2004, which is updated as necessary. This deals with the use of portable electronic devices of all kinds, including mobile telephones, in aircraft. It specifies the main categories of such equipment, and imposes a duty on operators to ensure the use of devices does not affect the safety of the aircraft.

Aviation: Mobile Phones

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent research  (a) her Department and  (b) the Civil Aviation Authority has undertaken on the effect of mobile telephone use on planes on flight systems.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The most recent research undertaken on the effects on aircraft flight systems of mobile telephones used by passengers is CAA Paper 2003/03 entitled "Effects of Interference from Cellular Telephones on Aircraft Avionic Equipment", published 30 April 2003 at: www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAPA2003_03PDF

Aviation: Mobile Phones

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research  (a) her Department and  (b) the Civil Aviation Authority has undertaken on the effect of the introduction of mobile telephone use on aeroplanes on the incidence of air rage.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have not carried out any research on the effect of the introduction of mobile telephone use on aeroplanes on the incidence of air rage. However, the CAA's disruptive database does record incidents where mobile phones have been the subject of a disruptive passenger incident. Typical examples would include passengers refusing to turn off their mobile phones or attempting to use them in flight when asked not to.

Blue Badge Scheme

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the independent strategic review of the blue badge scheme will be published; and if she will place a copy in the Library.

Rosie Winterton: I can confirm that the independent strategic review will be published shortly and copies will be placed in the House Library.

Blyth Flyover

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects Blyth flyover to be opened on the A1 in Nottinghamshire; and what the contracted date for completion of the flyover is.

Tom Harris: The new bridge at Blyth opened to traffic on 19 December 2007. The new A1 passing under the new bridge carrying the local roads is planned to open to traffic in mid-March 2008.
	The contractual date of completion of the junction is late April 2008.

British Railways Board: Property

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will place in the Library a list of all property, including railway structures, owned by the British Railways Board (Residuary).

Tom Harris: A list of BRB (Residuary) Ltd.'s (BRBR) railway structures was placed in the Library of the House in 2006. I will arrange for an updated list to be placed in the Library shortly. Details of BRBR's non-operational property are available on their website at www.brbr.gov.uk. The company also has leasehold interests in the following buildings.
	Birmingham, Axis
	Birmingham, Meridian
	Crewe, Rail House
	Croydon, Southern House
	Croydon, Stephenson House
	Liverpool, Rail House
	London N1, Whittles House
	London SE1, Friars Bridge Court
	Manchester, Rail House
	Nottingham, Furlong House
	Orpington, Nightingale House
	Southampton, Overline House

Cars: Fuels

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage change there has been in the average fuel efficiency of cars sold in England in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The annual changes in grammes-per-kilometre carbon dioxide emissions and litres-per-100-kilometres fuel consumption are as follows:
	
		
			Average new car CO  2   (g/km)   Annual percentage change   Cumulative percentage change   Fuel consumption (1/100km)   Annual percentage change   Cumulative percentage change 
			 1997 190 — 0.0 7.96 — 0.0 
			 1998 188 -0.7 -0.7 7.91 -0.6 -0.6 
			 1999 185 -1.8 -2.5 7.78 -1.6 -2.3 
			 2000 181 -2.2 -4.6 7.61 -2.2 -4.4 
			 2001 178 -1.7 -6.2 7.44 -2.2 -6.5 
			 2002 175 -1.8 -7.9 7.26 -2.4 -8.8 
			 2003 173 -1.2 -9.0 7.14 -1.7 -10.3 
			 2004 171 -0.8 -9.7 7.03 -1.5 -11.7 
			 2005 170 -0.9 -10.6 6.93 -1.4 -12.9 
			 2006 168 -1.2 -11.6 6.84 -1.3 -14.1 
			 2007 (1)165 (1)-1.4 (1)-13.1 (1)6.71 (1)-1.9 (1)-15.7 
			 (1 )2007 figures for g/km CO2 emissions come from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Those for fuel consumption in 2007 are extrapolated from the SMMT figures.

Christmas

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department spent on  (a) Christmas cards and  (b) postage of Christmas cards in 2007.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information is as follows.
	
		
			   Christmas cards 2007 
			   £ 
			(a) Cards   (b) Postage 
			 Central Department 1,737 Not recorded 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) 4,126 Not recorded 
			 Driving Standards Agency 2,200 462 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency No card — 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency No card — 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency No card — 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency No card — 
			 Highways Agency No card — 
			   Note:  Costs include VAT. 
		
	
	In the central Department and DVLA it is not possible to separate out postage costs from normal mail, but where postage is paid the policy is to mainly use second class.

David Abrahams

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she and her predecessor have met  (a) Mr. David Abrahams and  (b) representatives of Mr. Abrahams' companies since 2004.

Jim Fitzpatrick: My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and her predecessors have not attended meetings in their official capacity since 2004 with Mr. David Abrahams or representatives of companies registered to Mr Abrahams.

Departmental Marketing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many branded plastic bags her Department has purchased in the last 24 months for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Two of the Executive agencies—the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the Maritime Coastguard Agency—have procured plastic bags for use in exhibitions and campaigns. Numbers procured and expenditure in financial year 2005-06 totalled 40,000 bags at a cost of £5,314. Figures for 2006-07, were 95,400 bags at a cost of £14,486.
	A further 6,650 bags costing £731 have been procured by the Department over the last three financial years to package posters for the 'Arrive Alive' child road safety campaign.
	The Department and Executive Agencies are reviewing their practices on the purchase of bags used to facilitate the dissemination of information in campaigns and at exhibitions, following the Prime Minister's 19 November announcement that we should phase out single-use bags altogether, in favour of long-lasting and more sustainable alternatives.

Departmental Pay

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2007,  Official Report, column 788W, on departmental pay, how many of those earning over £100,000 were employed  (a) as special advisers and  (b) in a political role in each year since 2003.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the number of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information, I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 147-50WS.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Winter Supplementary Estimates (HC 29), if she will break down her Department's  (a) main estimate and  (b) winter supplementary estimate provision by subhead in (i) near cash and (ii) non-cash terms.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Near-cash and non-cash are essentially used as departmental expenditure limit (DEL) budgetary control concepts and are not specifically identified with voted resources in estimates. However, we have been able to break down net total resources for each section in the Part II: Subhead detail table of our Main and Winter Supplementary Estimates as follows:
	
		
			   £000 
			 Main estimate 2007-08   Winter Supplementary 2007-08 
			   Section   Section title   Near cash   Non cash   Total   Near cash   Non cash   Total 
			 A Ports and shipping services 15,036 1,353 16,389 13,985 1,353 15,338 
			 B Maritime and Coastguard Agency 113,279 6,828 120,107 113,449 6,828 120,277 
			 C Aviation services 17,258 4,507 21,765 17,225 4,507 21,732 
			 D Transport security and royal travel 18,700 0 18,700 26,215 46 26,261 
			 E Highways Agency 1,364,097 600,038 1,964,135 1,364,097 600,038 1,964,135 
			 F Publicity and advice 19,997 0 19,997 19,997 0 19,997 
			 G Research 36,998 1,570 38,568 28,055 2,570 30,625 
			 H Statistics, censuses and surveys 13,262 216 13,478 11,071 216 11,287 
			 1 Consultancies and other services for roads and local transport 5,799 0 5,799 10,389 0 10,389 
			 J Mobility and Inclusion Unit 4,902 61 4,963 5,961 61 6,022 
			 K Strategic Transport Studies 1,500 0 1,500 1,500 0 1,500 
			 L Railways 3,523,886 12,250 3,536,136 3,865,413 -7,650 3,857,763 
			 M Commission for Integrated Transport 1,500 0 1,500 1,500 0 1,500 
			 N Freight Grants 22,608 0 22,608 25,508 0 25,508 
			 O Bus Service Operator Grant 417,300 0 417,300 413,521 0 413,521 
			 P Vehicle Excise Duty enforcement -34,450 0 -34,450 -300 0 -300 
			 Q Vehicle Certification Agency enforcement 1,300 0 1,300 1,300 0 1,300 
			 R Vehicle Certification Agency -248 360 112 -248 360 112 
			 S Powershift and CleanUp 18,000 0 18,000 18,000 0 18,000 
			 T Dartford River Crossing -67,000 0 -67,000 -67,000 0 -67,000 
			 U Driving Standards Agency trading fund -540 335 -205 -1,740 935 -805 
			 V Vehicle and Operator Services Agency trading fund -2,393 1,152 -1,241 -3,693 2,852 -841 
			 W Vehicle and Operator Services Agency enforcement 11,421 0 11,421 17,721 0 17,721 
			 X Central Administration 160,252 20,464 180,716 189,228 20,418 209,646 
			 Y Trans-European network payments for transport projects (net) 3 0 3 3 0 3 
			 Z Driver, Vehicle and Operator Group central (including loan pool) 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 AA Other River Crossings -16,001 16,001 0 -16,001 27,001 11,000 
			 AB Haulage efficiency and modernisation projects 2,000 0 2,000 2,000 0 2,000 
			 AC Government Car and Despatch Agency -1,526 1,526 0 -1,526 1,526 0 
			 AD GLA Transport Grant (resource) 2,375,970 0 2,375,970 2,396,500 0 2,396,500 
			 AE Other Transport Grants (resource) 567,449 0 567,449 562,284 0 562,284 
			 AF Other Transport Grants (capital) 1,045,506 0 1,045,506 1,086,183 0 1,086,183 
			 AG Highways Agency 45,138 3,400,786 3,445,924 45,138 3,400,786 3,445,924 
			 AH Grant-in-Aid funding of NDPB's and PC's 182,700 0 182,700 182,700 0 182,700 
			 AI Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (trading fund) 228,508 0 228,508 228,508 0 228,508 
			 
			  Total 10,092,211 4,067,447 14,159,658 10,556,943 4,061,847 14,618,790

Driving Under Influence: Alcoholic Drinks

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she plans to lower the legally permitted blood alcohol concentration for driving on public roads.

Jim Fitzpatrick: We explained in the report of the second three-yearly review of the Road Safety Strategy, published in February 2007, that we will keep the case for a reduction in the legal alcohol limit for drivers under review. Our first priority is to improve the enforcement of the current limit, building on the recent achievements of the police. We believe this has the potential to deliver a substantial further reduction in deaths and serious injuries, so continuing the good progress of recent years.

Driving: Licensing

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Hendon pensioners over 70 years received free driving licence renewals in each of the last three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency does not hold information on the number of renewal transactions for specific geographical areas. All customers who have paid a life licence fee and renewed at the age of 70 (and over) would have been issued with a new licence free of charge.

Electrification

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her policy is on the electrification of the railway network; and what assessment she has made of the effect of the electrification on carbon dioxide emissions.

Tom Harris: The Government's position on rail electrification was set out in the rail White Paper "Towards a Sustainable Railway" published in July 2007. This was informed by a Rail Safety and Standards Board report which analysed a range of electrification schemes including their impact on carbon emissions.

Electrification

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of the  (a) cost and  (b) benefits of the electrification of those non-electrified parts of the rail network between (i) Southampton and Salisbury, (ii) Wokingham and Aldershot South junction and (iii) Basingstoke and Salisbury; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: The Department for Transport has not made such an assessment. The Government's position on rail electrification was set out in the rail White Paper "Towards a Sustainable Railway" published in July 2007.

English Language

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport reports expenditure of £332 on English language classes for staff in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

First Great Western: Compensation

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate has been made of the potential cost of compensation payable to First Great Western as a result of disruption to its services by the  (a) construction and  (b) operation of Crossrail.

Tom Harris: Train operators will be properly compensated for the loss of, or disruption to, services during the construction and operation of Crossrail. The Secretary of State's policy is set out in Crossrail Information Paper H2, "Railway Compensation" (http://billdocuments.crossrail.co.uk), and discussions are on-going with the rail industry to develop suitable arrangements.
	The project cost estimate has taken into account that compensation will be payable to other train operators as a result of the Crossrail works, based on experience elsewhere on the national rail network. However, exactly what compensation might be payable to any given train operator will vary according to the detail of how the Crossrail works are carried out.
	Once Crossrail services commence in 2017, they will be subject to the normal industry processes for compensation for disruption. It is not possible to estimate at this time what compensation might be payable between train operators and Network Rail.

International Labour Organisation Maritime Labour Convention

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects the UK to ratify the International Labour Organisation Maritime Labour Convention.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The UK Government, in line with all other EU member states, are committed to ratifying the Maritime Labour Convention and aim to do so by 2010, or earlier if possible.

Intimidation

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what definition of bullying is used in her Department's human resources policy.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Bullying is offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power which undermines, humiliates or injures the person on the receiving end.

Irish Lights

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she plans to take in response to the Review of Funding of the Commissioners of Irish Lights; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: We expect the Irish Lights Study will be completed shortly and are working closely with the Irish Government to ensure a long term funding solution is reached. The study's findings will be published. We will then consider how to take forward any recommendations made.

M1: Motorways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects work to  (a) commence and  (b) be completed in respect of the construction of junction 29A of the M1 motorway; what lane closures are planned to take place during construction; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: Work on the new M1 junction 29A started on the 13 August 2007. All the work has been outside the motorway carriageways but has involved the closure of the hard shoulder on the southbound carriageway from mid-September 2007.
	To enable the construction of the tie ins of the slip roads to the motorway, sign gantry removal, and installation of safety fencing, it will be necessary to close lane 1, and occasionally lane 2, of each carriageway between 10 pm and 6 am. These lane closures are planned to take place between 25 January and 31 March 2008.
	The junction will be completely open for traffic by mid-April 2008.

M1: Motorways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the expected benefits are of the construction of junction 29A of the M1 motorway; what consultation was undertaken prior to approving the plan; what representations she received, and from whom, in favour of the project; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: The new M1 junction 29A would provide good access opportunities with the Markham Employment Growth Zone area, an essential element to the viability of the Markham Vale development.
	While the Department for Transport contributed funding towards the Markham Vale Employment Growth Zone, the scheme was led by Derbyshire county council. Therefore, consultation was undertaken by them. Consultation representations would have been made direct to Derbyshire county council.

Marine Accident Investigation Branch: Industrial Health and Safety

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many work-related deaths were investigated in  (a) Scotland and  (b) the UK by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch in the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: From 2003 to 2007 the Marine Accident Investigation Branch carried out on-site investigations into:
	 (a) 16 deaths in Scottish waters (including inland waters)
	 (b) 41 deaths in all UK waters (including Scottish waters)
	in which the fatally injured persons were working on commercially operating vessels.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average amount of carbon dioxide emitted per mile driven was for road traffic in each EU country in the latest year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport does not hold this information.
	There are figures for total CO2 emissions from all types of road transport, in million tonnes of carbon dioxide, the most recent year being 2005. These can be found in Table 10.11 of "Transport Statistics Great Britain 2007", at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/tsgb/2007edition/sectionteninternat1849.pdf.

Motorways: Lighting

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will ensure that motorway lighting is installed at and in the vicinity of junction 29A of the M1 motorway during construction.

Tom Harris: The Highways Agency has no plans to install lighting at junction 29A of the M1 motorway. The roundabouts which connect the motorway entry and exit slip roads to the local road network will be lit.

Network Rail: Repairs and Maintenance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will initiate an official inquiry into the performance of contractors employed by Network Rail on projects at  (a) Liverpool Street station and  (b) Rugby; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: The Office of Rail Regulation has launched an investigation into Network Rail's management of engineering projects including the causes of the engineering over-runs at Liverpool street and Rugby over Christmas and new year and expect to announce their preliminary findings by 29 February 2008. We will not seek to pre-empt the Office of Rail Regulation by speculating on causes before the report is issued.

North Sea SOx Emission Control Area

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects to bring forward legislation to enforce the North Sea SOx Emission Control Area regulations and set penalties for non-compliance.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Legislation to implement the North Sea SOx Emission Control Area is currently being prepared for public consultation and is planned to be in force by summer of this year. Penalties for non-compliance will be included in this legislation.

Rail Services

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the potential extent of disruption of long-distance train services from Paddington to South Wales arising from the  (a) construction and  (b) operation of Crossrail.

Tom Harris: The Crossrail works are being planned to minimise disruption to existing railway services during construction. The detailed planning of these works, which Network Rail envisages undertaking, will be managed through the normal industry processes nearer to the start of construction. The Crossrail Environmental Statement (ES) contains an assessment of the expected disruption to services on the Great Western Main Line (http://billdocuments.crossrail.co.uk; ES Volume 1, 2.5.19 and Volume 8a, 6.15-6.16).
	Crossrail services will subsume most of the suburban services that use the "slow" lines between Maidenhead and Paddington. Since the Welsh services will continue to use the "fast" lines, no changes are proposed to services to Wales as a result of Crossrail during normal operations (ES, Volume 1, 2.4.9).

Rail Services

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of whether extra rolling stock is required for rail services provided in the North West by  (a) Northern Rail,  (b) Merseyrail;  (c) First TransPennine Express,  (d) Virgin West Coast and  (e) Arriva Cross Country franchises.

Tom Harris: On 24 July 2007 the Secretary of State announced that around 1,300 extra carriages are to come into service between now and 2014. They will go on routes into London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool to provide the capacity to meet growing demand. It is now for the DFT to work with train operating companies and Network Rail to identify how these additional carriages will be distributed across each of the train operating companies.

Railway Network

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria will be used to allocate the additional 1,300 carriages referred to in the rail White Paper across the rail network; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: The extra rolling stock will be deployed as necessary to provide the amount of extra capacity at London termini and in other urban areas as set out in tables A4 and A5 of The Railways Act 2005 Statement, subject to value for money.

Railway Stations

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway stations have been  (a) opened and  (b) re-opened since 1 May 1997.

Tom Harris: Since 1 May 1997, 36 stations have opened on the national network, two of which—Canning Town and West Ham—were resited because of Jubilee line works. Another three have reopened.

Railways: Freight

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the maximum additional  (a) passenger and  (b) freight capacity in percentage terms which can be delivered by the existing rail network without the reopening of lines or opening of new lines; and what additional capacity in percentage terms is likely to be delivered by the implementation of all proposals in the Government's Delivering A Sustainable Railway paper.

Tom Harris: No estimate has been made of the maximum additional capacity possible on the existing network. This would depend not only on the nature and extent of investment, but on the type, routeing, timetabling and mix of train services operated.
	In the July 2007 White Paper 'Delivering a Sustainable Railway', the Government set out the capacity required to meet forecast passenger demand in England and Wales to 2014, taking into account the needs of freight, and are investing in the railway to meet this growth.

Railways: Norwich

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what percentage of delays to trains on the Norwich to London railway line there were between the hours of  (a) 6 am and 10 am,  (b) 10 am and 3 pm and  (c) 4 pm and 11.30 pm in each direction in 2007.

Tom Harris: The Department does not receive the information at this level of detail. Data relating to punctuality of train services are collected and processed by Network Rail. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to his question.
	Iain Coucher
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	40 Melton Street
	London NW1 2EE

Railways: Overcrowding

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of levels of overcrowding on rail journeys taken at  (a) peak and  (b) off-peak times between (i) Liverpool and Manchester, (ii) Leeds and Manchester, (iii) Newcastle and York and (iv) Liverpool and Birmingham; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: The rail White Paper was published in July 2007. It sets out the resources we intend to make available to the rail industry and the increases in capacity, as well as safety and performance, that we expect the industry to deliver in return.
	There are no specific requirements regarding levels of overcrowding on these routes. The Department's general requirements for overcrowding are that passengers should not be expected to stand for more than 20 minutes.

Railways: Radioactive Wastes

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail journeys have taken place in which  (a) spent nuclear fuel and  (b) nuclear waste was carried through the Channel Tunnel since 2001; and for each such journey what the (i) place of origin, (ii) destination and (iii) volume carried was.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Eurotunnel does not permit these materials to be transported through the Channel Tunnel.

Roads: Safety

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research she has commissioned on the effect on road traffic casualties of the introduction of 20mph zones in  (a) Portsmouth,  (b) Hull,  (c) Edinburgh,  (d) Aberdeen and  (e) London.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Individual highway authorities monitor the effectiveness of their local road safety schemes, including 20 mph zones.
	TRL Report 215 "Review of Traffic Calming Schemes in 20 mph Zones", published in 1996, found that self enforcing 20 mph zones achieved an average 9 mph reduction in vehicle speeds, that accident frequency fell by 60 per cent. and that the number of accidents involving children reduced by 67 per cent.
	No specific research has been commissioned by the Department on the effectiveness of 20 mph zones in the areas identified. The Department is intending to commission shortly a review of the implementation of 20 mph zones as part of a wider research project which will develop and deliver a programme of process and outcome evaluation of local road user safety policy and practice. It is likely that the review of 20 mph zones will include some of these areas.

Roads: Safety

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department has taken to ensure that local authority best practice in road traffic speed management is shared.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department publishes best practice advice on a wide range of speed management measures in the form of Traffic Advisory Leaflets.
	The Department's research project, 'Research to Develop Guidance for Highway Authorities on How to Monitor and Evaluate Speed Management Interventions, Programmes and Strategies', is involving extensive consultation with local authority practitioners, and will include a number of case studies.
	The Department is also intending to commission shortly a wider research project which will develop and deliver a programme of process and outcome evaluation of local road user safety policy and practice. This will cover a wide range of road safety initiatives and measures, including speed management.

Roads: Safety

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will  (a) monitor and  (b) assess the effect on road safety of 20 mph zones.

Jim Fitzpatrick: TRL Report 215 "Review of Traffic Calming Schemes in 20 mph Zones", published in 1996, found that self enforcing 20mph zones achieved an average 9 mph reduction in vehicle speeds, that accident frequency fell by 60 per cent. and that the number of accidents involving children reduced by 67 per cent.
	The Department intends to commission shortly a review of the implementation of 20 mph zones as part of a wider research project which will develop and deliver a programme of process and outcome evaluation of local road user safety policy and practice.

Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she authorised the Article 14 directions under the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995, issued by the Highways Agency in relation to the Durham Green Business Park in  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2005.

Tom Harris: As an Executive agency of the Department for Transport, the Highways Agency has delegated authority to make the relevant decisions under the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 in the name of the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State was not asked to approve the Highways Agency decisions and had no involvement in any part of the process.

West Coast Railway Line

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she last discussed the West Coast mainline with Network Rail; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: While the Government have no power to intervene in Network Rail's operations, the Secretary of State met with Iain Coucher, Chief Executive of Network Rail, on 3 January to discuss the engineering overruns on West Coast mainline. She made it clear that delays such as those faced by passengers over the new year period were completely unacceptable.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Admiralty House: Official Residences

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have been made to the fittings and fixtures of the official Ministerial residence in Admiralty House previously occupied by the right hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull and now occupied by Lord Malloch-Brown in the last 12 months.

Meg Munn: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 14 November 2007,  Official Report, column 313W.

Brussels

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on Eurostar tickets to Brussels in each of the last 11 years; and how many first class Eurostar tickets to Brussels his Department purchased in each of the last 11 years.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office spent a total of £214,373 on Eurostar tickets for official travel to Brussels in the last calendar year (January to December 2007). It would incur disproportionate cost, however, to collate information for previous years. It is also not possible to provide a breakdown of the number of first class Eurostar tickets purchased to Brussels as this information is not held centrally.

Craig Alden

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent efforts have been made by the Government to secure the release of Craig Alden, a British subject imprisoned in Brazil; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what response the British embassy in Brasilia has made to the recent letter from Mr. Craig Alden, a British subject imprisoned in Brazil, calling for a petition to be made to the Brazilian Supreme Court in relation to his case.

Meg Munn: We have provided Mr. Alden with full consular assistance since his arrest in July 2002. We supported his application for Presidential Expulsion (equivalent to clemency for foreign nationals) in 2005, but this was rejected by the Brazilian authorities. Most recently we supported Mr. Alden's appeal to the National Justice Council in May 2007, which was rejected in June 2007. Consular staff, from our embassy in Brasilia, propose to meet Mr. Alden and his legal representatives to discuss what further action may be open to Mr. Alden and his legal team. We continue to offer Mr. Alden consular assistance in the most effective way we can.

Cyprus

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 90W, on Cyprus: diplomatic relations, what meetings in the UK have been attended by the hon. Member for Enfield, North in her capacity as the Government's Special Representative to Cyprus.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Joan Ryan), in her capacity as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's Special Representative to Cyprus, provides a link between the Cypriot diaspora in the UK and Ministers, and explores how they can help promote a settlement in Cyprus, while also maintaining an overview of the political situation and UN settlement negotiations in Cyprus. As such, she regularly holds meetings with representatives of both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities from the UK and Cyprus, other interested parties, Foreign and Commonwealth Office representatives and Ministers.

Cyprus

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 90W, on Cyprus: diplomatic relations, when the Government's Special Representative to Cyprus, the hon. Member for Enfield, North, next plans to visit Cyprus; and whom she plans to meet on the visit.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Joan Ryan), my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's Special Representative to Cyprus, visited the island in October 2007. There are no plans at present for another visit.

Cyprus

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 90W, on Cyprus: diplomatic relations, what meetings were held during the visit to Cyprus by the Government's Special Representative to Cyprus, the hon. Member for Enfield, North, in October 2007; and what the cost of the visit was.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Joan Ryan) met the following representatives from both communities during her visit to Cyprus in October 2007:
	UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Michael Moller, UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Chief of Staff Peter Fraser Hopewell and US Ambassador Ron Schlicher;
	UNFICYP Green Line Tour with Peter Fraser Hopewell;
	Cyprus House of Representatives President and Progressive Party of the Working People of Cyprus (AKEL) leader, Demetris Christofias;
	Ioannis Kasoulides, opposition leader;
	Eleni Mavrou, Mayor of Nicosia (AKEL);
	Bicommunal civil society groups and the UN Development Programme Action for Co-operation and Trust;
	Republic of Cyprus Foreign Minister, Erato Marcoullis;
	President of the Republic of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulos;
	Nicos Anastassiades, leader of opposition party Democratic Rally;
	Emine Erk, Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation;
	Mehmet Ali Talat, Leader of Turkish Cypriot Community;
	Rasit Pertev, former "Under-secretary" to Mehmet Talat;
	Tahsin Ertugruloglu;
	Oktay Kayalp;
	Oya Talat;
	Ferdi Sabat Soyer, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Leader.
	Commander British Forces in Cyprus and Sovereign Base Area Administrator, Air Vice Marshall Dick Lacey; and
	Chief Officer of Sovereign Base Areas, Peter Draycott.
	The cost of the visit was £937.60, which was met by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Cyprus

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 90W, on Cyprus: diplomatic relations, who accompanied the Government's Special Representative to Cyprus on her visit to that country in October 2007.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Joan Ryan), in her capacity as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's Special Representative to Cyprus, was unaccompanied on her visit to Cyprus in October 2007. However, officials from our high commission in Nicosia accompanied her in meetings.

Departmental Internet

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2007,  Official Report, column 828W, on departmental internet, how much equipment to film blog content cost; and whether this equipment is used for other purposes by his Department.

Meg Munn: The camcorders bought for filming blog content cost £5,612.77. The equipment has also been used for filming videos and pictures that have been loaded on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) website at:
	www.fco.gov.uk
	as well as on the FCO's channels on YouTube at:
	http://uk.Youtube.com/ukforeignoffice
	and Flickr at:
	http://www.flickr.com/photos/foreignoffice/.

Departmental Internet

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2007,  Official Report, column 828W, on departmental internet, what the grade is of each of the staff who deal with the blogging platform.

Meg Munn: Two members of staff work full-time on updating the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) blogging platform and on its upkeep. One is graded at C5, the other at B3. Other members of staff within the FCO devote a proportion of their time to the blogging platform, covering a range of grades, from the senior management structure to a locally engaged commercial officer.

Departmental Pay

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 1036-37W, on departmental pay, how many of those earning over £100,000 were employed as  (a) special advisers and  (b) in a political role in each year since 1997.

Meg Munn: None of the 42 Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff listed in the 2007 FCO Annual Departmental Report as earning over £100,000 were employed as special advisers or in a political role.
	Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the number of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 147-150WS.
	Before 2003 Ministers provided information on the number and cost of special advisers at regular intervals. This information is available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Plastics

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many FCO-branded plastic bags his Department has procured; and at what cost in the last 24 months for which figures are available.

Meg Munn: In the last 24 months for which figures are available 11,000 branded plastic bags were procured by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at a cost of £3,320.

EU Presidency

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to seek the establishment of a procedure to remove the new full-time President of the European Council before their term of office expires if one or a specified number of member states feel this course of action is appropriate.

Jim Murphy: The Government support a full-time President of the European Council, appointed for a mandate of two and a half years, renewable once. He or she will replace the current President of the European Council, who changes every six months. He or she will be chosen by Heads of State and Government by qualified majority, and will be accountable to them. The treaty of Lisbon provides that the European Council can end the President's term of office by a qualified majority in the event of an impediment or serious misconduct.

HMS Sussex

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the retrieval of bullion from HMS Sussex, with particular reference to Gibraltarian territorial waters.

Jim Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Derek Twigg) to the hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell) on 7 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1971W, and the reply given by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Ivor Caplin) to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 2 February 2005,  Official Report, column 898W. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Europe (Mr. Douglas Alexander) to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch) on 14 February 2006,  Official Report, column 1902W, which states that the wreck, which we believe could be the Sussex, lies in the straits of Gibraltar outside British Gibraltar territorial waters in international waters.

Iraq: Politics and Government

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of foreign contractors in Iraq having been arrested by the Iraqi authorities; and whether any UK individuals or companies are involved.

Meg Munn: We do not receive reports of foreign contractors arrested by the Iraqi authorities. We are aware of one British national working for a private security company having been detained briefly in Iraq since March 2003.

Mahmoud Salehi

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Iran on  (a) the medical condition and  (b) the need for specialist treatment of the imprisoned trade union leader, Mahmoud Salehi.

Meg Munn: Mahmoud Salehi, former head of the Trade Association of Saqez Bakery Workers and a well-known labour rights activist, has been arrested several times for activities relating to the trade association and mobilising the labour movement in Iran, and has been imprisoned since April 2007. We are deeply concerned by recent reports about his treatment and health in prison. The EU Presidency, with strong UK support, raised concerns about Mr. Salehi's situation in meetings with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 1 May, 1 September and 10 October last year. More recently, on 5 December 2007, the EU Presidency raised specific concerns that Mr. Salehi had been ill treated in detention and denied access to suitable medical care. We will continue to raise Mr. Salehi's case with the Iranian authorities, and urge Iran to honour its international human rights obligations and its commitments as a member of the International Labour Organisation, by respecting fully the right to freedom of expression and the right to form or join trade unions.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire's letter, dated 22 November 2007, on behalf of a constituent about the case of Mr. Craig Alden.

Meg Munn: I replied to the hon. Member on 2 January 2008.

Recycling

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recycling schemes are in operation in each building operated by his Department.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office operates recycling schemes at its two London buildings, Old Admiralty Building and the Main Building in King Charles Street, and at its Hanslope Park site in Buckinghamshire. At these locations we recycle:
	paper and cardboard;
	glass;
	cans and metal;
	wood;
	clear plastic cups;
	domestic batteries;
	toner cartridges;
	mobile telephones;
	Christmas cards; and
	usable old furniture is given to charity for re-use.
	Additionally at Hanslope Park we compost food and plant waste and recycle plastic bottles and compact discs.
	We maintain no central record of the recycling arrangements for our overseas estate. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Tanzania: Overseas Investment

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Ministers  (a) have taken and  (b) are taking to protect the interests of UK citizens who have invested in business interests in Tanzania.

Meg Munn: Where UK citizens seek help in protecting investments in Tanzania, our high commission in Dar es Salaam provides support—for example, by providing information, by facilitating contacts with the Tanzanian authorities, or by lobbying on the investors' behalf. Ministers have sometimes lobbied as well.

Zimbabwe: Sanctions

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2007,  Official Report, column 566W, on Zimbabwe: sanctions to the hon. Member for East Devon, if he will list the Zimbabwean individuals who are not already subject to an EU travel ban and assets freeze that the UK has decided to exclude from the UK; and when these decisions were taken.

David Miliband: It is not the Government's policy to comment on exclusions unless the individuals concerned have made their own exclusion public. Because he did so, we are able to confirm that Gideon Gono, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, was excluded from the United Kingdom by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 17 August 2007. Prior to this, two other Zimbabwean nationals have been excluded under my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's powers, but we cannot provide further details as the individuals concerned have chosen not to disclose the matter publicly.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Wastes

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of requiring a restricted time frame to be imposed for spreading of slurry on voluntary agreements to avoid such work on weekends and bank holidays.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 7 January 2008
	 The proposed closed period for organic manures with high available nitrogen, as set out in the consultation on implementation of the Nitrates Directive in England, reflects long-standing advice contained in Fertiliser Recommendations for Agricultural and Horticultural Crops (RB209) and the Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Water. These publications advise that organic manures should be applied in late winter or spring as these are times of maximum crop growth and will optimise the use of nitrogen contained in the manure. This is particularly important for slurry which has a high available nitrogen content.
	The Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Air advises farmers to avoid spreading at weekends and bank holidays to reduce odour problems but suggests that this practice may be acceptable if a band spreader or an injector is used or the slurry has been treated. We expect farmers to continue following this good practice advice.

Animal Welfare Act 2006

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he intends to produce codes of conduct for  (a) animal quarantine premises,  (b) boarding kennels and  (c) catteries under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Jonathan R Shaw: Government have already produced a code of practice for the welfare of dogs and cats in quarantine premises, and do not intend to produce a further code under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
	The Government are committed to repealing the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 and replacing it with regulations and a supporting code of practice for dog and cat boarding under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. During the passage of the 2006 Act through Parliament, dog and cat boarding was seen as a lower priority in comparison with other animal welfare matters and we have yet to establish any timescale for the regulations to be introduced.

Bats: Ecology

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of bat ecologists.

Joan Ruddock: We do not hold numbers on bat ecologists but there are currently just over 800 volunteer bat workers who support Natural England in providing advice on bats.

EU Grants and Loans

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people employed in his Department work on administering EU structural funds; and what the cost of such staff was in 2006-07.

Jonathan R Shaw: In 2006-07, staffing on the DEFRA-administered EU Structural Funds equated to three full-time posts. The total salary costs to the Department were £115,000.

European Fisheries Fund

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1269W, on European Fisheries Fund, what discussions he has had with the European Commission on the UK's Operational Programme for the spending of the European Fisheries Fund; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with  (a) the European Commission and  (b) his counterparts in EU member states on the possible reduction in the EFF budget for the UK that the Commission could impose for (i) 2007 and (ii) 2008; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what representations he has made to the European Commission on the possibility of the 2007 European Fisheries Fund monies for the UK being carried over to future years; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  when he expects to know whether the European Commission will permit the UK to carry over the European Fisheries Fund for  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008 until such time that the UK Operational Programme is approved; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  whether he plans to raise the issue of the European Fisheries Fund and the carry over of monies from  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008, at the December Fisheries Council meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have discussed with Commissioner Borg the arrangements and timing for submitting the UK's National Strategic Plan and obtaining approval for the UK's Operational Programme. The National Strategic Plan has now been finalised, and I plan to formally submit this to the Commission later this month. My officials are working with those from the devolved administrations to complete the UK Operational Programme, in order to enable consultation to take place in early 2008. My officials will also be liaising closely with Commission officials to enable approval of the UK Operational Programme to be obtained as quickly as possible following formal submission.
	The Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance closed at the end of 2007. To obtain access to the new European Fisheries Fund requires the approval by the European Commission of the UK's Operational Programme. I have made clear to Commissioner Borg the importance I attach to the UK having access to those funds in 2008 and subsequent years.
	I have not had any discussions, or made any representations to either the European Commission, or other member states, regarding EFF budget reductions or allocations being carried forward, because it is not yet clear that any reductions will be imposed. I will support any Commission proposal, and seek the necessary EU Council and Parliament agreement, which would result in the 2007 allocation being carried forward.

Floods: Risk Assessment

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to acquire mapping information on surface water flooding from  (a) the Association of British Insurers and  (b) local authorities with a view to identifying areas at highest risk of flooding.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency is investigating the development of maps showing areas at risk from surface water flooding. The agency has been liaising with a number of local authorities to ascertain the feasibility of collating data from a range of sources.
	As the Environment Agency develops its proposals it will liaise with a number of other data owners who are expected to include the Association of British Insurers, with a view to incorporating all available appropriate data.

Fly Tipping

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fly-tipping incidents involved household waste were recorded by Flycapture in  (a) 2004-05,  (b) 2005-06 and  (c) 2006-07 in each local authority in England.

Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 January 2008,  Official Report, column 385W.

Fly Tipping: Enforcement

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the Flycapture Enforcement training package, including the module on the Regulation and Investigatory Power Act 2000.

Joan Ruddock: I am arranging for copies of this training package to be placed in the Library of the House.

Fly Tipping: Lincolnshire

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents of fly-tipping were recorded in  (a) North East Lincolnshire and  (b) North Lincolnshire in each of the last five years.

Joan Ruddock: I have arranged for a table to be placed in the Library of the House showing the number of fly-tipping incidents and prosecutions recorded by each local authority on Flycapture for 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07. Data are only available from 2004 onwards.
	Following the release of the 2006-07 Flycapture statistics on 9 October 2007, this information has been sent to all MPs and has been placed in the Printed Paper Office.
	It is also available to download electronically on DEFRA's Flycapture website:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/localenv/flytipping/flycapture-data.htm

Fly Tipping: Prosecutions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions were  (a) undertaken and  (b) successful in relation to fly-tipping incidents in 2006-07 in (i) absolute terms and (ii) as a percentage of the total number of fly-tipping incidents.

Joan Ruddock: Prosecution data are taken from Flycapture, the national fly-tipping database. In 2006-07, local authorities and the Environment Agency submitted the data in the following table.
	Prosecutions figures are only cases taken through the court system and do not include wider enforcement action.
	In 2006-07, local authorities recorded an additional 378,974 enforcement actions, consisting of warning letters, statutory notices, fixed penalty notices, duty of care inspections, vehicle seizures and formal cautions. Excluding Liverpool city council, this figure was 172,042.
	
		
			Local authorities   Environment Agency 
			 Total incidents 2,633,518 982 
			 Total incidents (excluding Liverpool city council) 1,316,209 n/a 
			 Total prosecutions undertaken 1,371 161 
			 Successful prosecutions 1,289 152 
			 Total prosecutions as percentage of total incidents 0.05 16.4 
			 Total prosecutions as percentage of total (excluding Liverpool city council) 0.1 n/a 
			 Successful prosecutions as percentage of total incidents 0.05 15.5 
			 Successful prosecutions as percentage of total incidents (excluding Liverpool city council) 0.1 n/a

Fly Tipping: Romford

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions have been brought against fly tippers in Romford in the last four years.

Joan Ruddock: Flycapture, the national fly-tipping database records data at the local authority, not district or ward, level. Prosecution data for Romford will therefore be included in the total data for the London borough of Havering.
	Data are only available from 2004 onwards.
	I have arranged for a table to be placed in the Library of the House showing the number of fly-tipping incidents and prosecutions recorded in each local authority by local authorities on Flycapture for 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07.
	Following the release of the 2006-07 Flycapture statistics on 9 October 2007, this information has been sent to all MPs.
	It is also available to download electronically on DEFRA's Flycapture website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/localenv/flytipping/flycapture-data.htm

Game Birds

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1000W, on game birds, what steps he takes to assess the reliability of data from reports by other organisations referred to by him in answers to parliamentary questions.

Joan Ruddock: It is my understanding that before publication the report referred to in the answer of 17 December 2007 was peer reviewed by Emeritus Professor David Colman of Manchester university, President of the International Association of Agricultural Economists.
	In general, scientific data referenced in parliamentary questions are drawn from peer reviewed publications or are reviewed by staff within the Department or its statutory advisers.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people awarded Warm Front grants have been asked to make an excess payment in  (a) Shropshire,  (b) West Midlands and  (c) England.

Phil Woolas: Since June 2005 the number of households who have been asked to make excess payment contributions towards their Warm Front measures are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Total excess payments required (households) 
			Number 
			 Shropshire 792 
			 West Midlands 17,072 
			 England 90,789

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of Warm Front grants have been subject to an excess payment in  (a) Shropshire,  (b) West Midlands and  (c) England.

Phil Woolas: Since June 2005, the proportion of households which have been asked to make an excess payment contribution towards their Warm Front measures are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Warm Front grants subject to excess payment 
			Percentage 
			 Shropshire 19.25 
			 West Midlands 22.04 
			 England 16.94

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the value of Warm Front grants made in  (a) Shropshire,  (b) West Midlands and  (c) England has been in 2007-08.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Scheme year 2007-08 
			Value of grants (£) 
			 Shropshire 2,269,804.26 
			 West Midlands 46,280,487.56 
			 England 263,548,038.84

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the grant limits for the Warm Front scheme will be reviewed.

Phil Woolas: We are currently reviewing the Warm Front grant limits.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will ensure that excess payments for the Warm Front scheme are collected via the scheme's managing agents.

Phil Woolas: Clients are asked to pay excess payment contributions directly to the installation company in order that the work can proceed as quickly as possible, and to reduce the administrative costs of another agency handling the payment.
	There are no current plans to instruct the Warm Front scheme manager to collect client excess payments.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme: Heating

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many backboilers have been replaced under the Warm Front scheme; how many such backboilers have been disconnected rather than removed; and how many chimneys have been converted to allow a gas fire to be installed.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 10 January 2008
	Since June 2005 7,543 back boiler heating systems have been replaced through Warm Front.
	Data on the number of back boilers disconnected but not removed through Warm Front are not held.
	No chimneys have been converted to allow a gas fire to be installed through Warm Front.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme: Standards

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanisms his Department uses to ensure high standards of workmanship and service by Warm Front contractors.

Phil Woolas: To ensure that installation work performed through the Warm Front Scheme meets the required standards, the Scheme Manager of eaga plc, inspects all central heating installations as well as a proportion of other completed work.
	All contractors are assessed against a vendor-rating system, which analyses performance against various criteria, including (but not limited to) customer service, professionalism and workmanship. The vendor rating of each contractor determines the amount of work they receive in the future.
	Contractors who fall short of these standards are removed from the Warm Front Scheme.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme: Standards

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the average waiting time for  (a) receipt of a quotation and  (b) completion of work under the Warm Front scheme in the latest period for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: Data on the waiting times for the receipt of a quotation are not collected.
	Average waiting times since April 2007 are 65.3 working days for heating measures and 26.7 working days for insulation measures, from the point of the Warm Front assessment survey.

Landfill: Plastics

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the percentage of waste which went to landfill in England that was made up of plastics that could not be recycled in each of the last five years.

Joan Ruddock: The Government's waste strategy, published last year, includes estimates for quantities of plastic waste and its management based on a published DEFRA-funded research report 'Carbon balances and energy impacts of the management of UK Wastes' by ERM. Based on this, and figures on total waste to landfill, it can be estimated that broadly around 5 per cent. of the total waste to landfill is plastics (dense and film).
	Virtually all plastics can be recycled, however, this recyclability is ultimately determined by collection and reprocessing facilities available.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which local authorities received grant funding from the  (a) Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund,  (b) Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant and  (c) Behavioural Change Local Fund in each year since 2005-06; and what projects received grants in each case.

Joan Ruddock: Local authorities were able to bid for funding under the Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund. £135 million was made available across 2004-05 and 2005-06. £20.55 million of this was specifically set aside for local authorities in London. Successful projects funded are listed on DEFRA's website.
	The Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant (WPEG) awarded £40 million in 2005-06, £105 million in 2006-07 and £110 million in 2007-08 to all local authorities in England. The grant was allocated by formula and was 'unringfenced', in line with the Government's policy of giving freedom and flexibility to local authorities.
	A full list of WPEG allocations to local authorities in 2006-07 and 2007-08 is available on DEFRA's website.
	I have arranged for the list of local authorities awarded funding under the Waste and Resources Action Programme's (WRAP) Behavioural Change Local Fund from 2005-06 to be placed in the House Library.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire's letter to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, dated 23 November 2007, on the future of British Waterways.

Jonathan R Shaw: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 4 January 2008. I apologise for the delay in replying.

Mercury: Health Hazards

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what adverse health reactions arising from exposure to mercury have been reported among those working in the manufacture of mercury barometers in the UK in the last 10 years.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 7 January 2008
	 Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 a report must be sent to the enforcing authority where a person at work suffers from mercury poisoning. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the enforcing authority for all manufacturing activities, including mercury barometer manufacture. HSE statisticians advise that from 1993-94 to 2006-07 (inclusive), there have been five cases of 'poisoning by mercury' reported to HSE. The latest of these were two cases in 1999-2000.
	Mercury released from barometers, on breakage or ultimate disposal, will persist in the environment and as such can indirectly lead to risks to human health.

Natural England: Finance

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of how changes in funding for Natural England will affect the Government's 2010 target of halting biodiversity loss; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 10 January 2008
	We have started discussions with Natural England on options for its budget for 2008-09 but do not expect to take final decisions until February. It is therefore too early to set out what the implications will be.
	Securing a healthy natural environment remains a top priority and is one of my Department's two high level goals alongside tackling climate change. Natural England will be a key contributor to this work. Following decisions on next year's funding settlement, we will be working with Natural England to finalise its next corporate plan, which will set Natural England's priorities and the outcomes to be achieved.

Nature Conservation: Seas and Oceans

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received on the establishment of a network of marine conservation zones to protect marine wildlife; what steps he plans to take on better co-ordination of the activities of commercial  (a) dredging,  (b) fishing and  (c) energy production; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA has received representations from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs).
	Through the Marine Bill, we aim to create a marine planning system that will be a key tool in helping the UK Government deliver their vision for the marine environment in which resources and activities in UK waters are strategically managed and coordinated, integrating conservation, energy and resource needs.
	Marine planning will take a strategic view of the way in which all marine activities (including dredging, fishing and energy generation) interact and will address possible conflicts between them more quickly. It will also consider the cumulative impact they have on the marine environment, and guide decisions on licence applications and other issues providing users of the sea with more certainty. Marine plans will also take account of designated marine conservation zones, and the information gathered during planning will help us to ensure that we are properly protecting the areas that need it.

Packaging: Plastics

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress his Department has made on reducing the use of plastic bags; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Irish government's policy on the matter.

Joan Ruddock: The Government have secured an agreement with retailers to reduce the environmental impact of single use shopping bags (paper and plastic) by 25 per cent. by the end of 2008.
	A number of retailers have already implemented initiatives and are working with the Waste and Resources Action Programme on their individual programmes of activity. A review of progress towards the 25 per cent. target will be completed by the end of this year to assess what would be required to make further reductions by 2010.
	On 19 November 2007, the Prime Minister announced that the Government would convene a forum of supermarkets, the British Retail Consortium and other interested groups to urgently assess together how, and how quickly, we can eliminate single-use disposable bags altogether, in favour of long-lasting and more sustainable alternatives.
	An assessment of the Irish levy on plastic bags has been carried out in the past by HM Treasury. This concluded that a similar tax in this country would not be effective on environmental grounds. The Government have no current plans for a national plastic bags tax, although the Chancellor keeps all taxes under review.

Plastics: Biodegradability

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the Government's policy is on biodegradable plastics;
	(2)  what recent discussions  (a) he and  (b) officials from his Department have had with third parties on the use of biodegradable plastics.

Joan Ruddock: The Government fully support the development of new, innovative technologies including some products made from biodegradable materials and particularly the sustainable development of biodegradable plastics from non-fossil sources.
	The strategy for non-food crops and uses, (published in November 2004 by DEFRA and the former Department of Trade and Industry), set out a number of actions, aimed at promoting opportunities for biopolymers and other renewable products.
	The strategy recognises that polymers derived from renewable materials can have lifecycle advantages over petrochemical based products, provided they are correctly disposed of, usually through composting or, in some circumstances, incineration with energy recovery. The Government are working with industry and trade organisations to support the development of schemes to increase composting of biodegradable materials and to inform consumers and businesses of the importance of doing this.

Primates: Pets

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he intends to bring forward secondary legislation under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 on keeping primates as pets.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Government intend to introduce a code of practice on the keeping of primates as pets under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 as soon as possible in line with available resources. A working group has already been tasked with producing such a code. This and all other codes issued by the Government will be subject to public consultation and parliamentary approval.

Seabed: Scotland

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2007,  Official Report, column 530W, on Seabed: Scotland, when he next plans to discuss the Marine Bill with the devolved administrations; if he will discuss the control of the seabed to the 200 nautical miles limit around Scotland; whether he intends to use the Marine Bill to give the Scottish Executive control over that seabed; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA officials and I meet regularly with our counterparts in the devolved administrations to discuss marine issues, including the Marine Bill. Proposals for the draft Marine Bill respect the current devolution settlement with Scotland. It is for the UK Government as a whole to consider any proposals for changes in responsibility for the control of the seabed to the 200 nautical mile limit around the whole of the UK.

Seas and Oceans: Scotland

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what responsibilities  (a) his Department and  (b) the Scottish Executive have within the (i) six and (ii) 12 nautical mile limit around Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Activities in the marine area out to both six and 12 nautical miles are controlled under a variety of regimes. Responsibilities under these regimes in different parts of our territorial sea are subject to the devolution settlements and other management arrangements agreed with the devolved administrations. As a consequence, DEFRA responsibilities across the marine area vary and some of those responsibilities are shared with other Government Departments and agencies.
	Responsibilities within those parts of the territorial sea adjacent to Scotland are defined under the Scotland Act 1998. The Scottish Executive has responsibility in that area for all matters not reserved to the UK Government by virtue of that Act, and for any reserved matters which have been executively devolved to the Scottish Ministers.

Sewers: Urban Areas

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects the urban drainage pilot projects to be completed; and if he will publish their conclusions on  (a) effectiveness,  (b) cost and benefits and  (c) contribution to the reduction of flooding.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA's integrated urban drainage pilots are due to finish in spring 2008, with a final report and guidance produced in autumn 2008. We expect the final report to cover the costs, benefits and effectiveness of an integrated approach to urban drainage, particularly with respect to improved flood risk management.

Stray Dogs

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what expenditure local councils have made on kennels for stray dogs; and what resources have been given to local councils to enable them to implement the relevant provisions of the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005;
	(2)  when the provisions of the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005 in relation to stray dogs will be fully implemented.

Jonathan R Shaw: The commencement of section 68 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 will take place on 6 April 2008, at which point local authorities will become solely responsible for stray dogs functions under sections 149 and 150 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
	Local authorities will be funded through the Revenue Support Grant arrangements, which will include an additional £4 million a year for authorities in England and Wales.
	Local authorities are free to decide how to spend the funding for their services in relation to stray dogs, and DEFRA does not collect data on individual local authorities' expenditure.

Stray Dogs

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding will be made available to local authorities for the 24-hour service for stray dogs in advance of the coming into force of section 68 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005; and whether this money will be ringfenced for this purpose.

Jonathan R Shaw: From 6 April 2008, the police will cease to have responsibility for stray dogs functions under sections 149 and 150 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; the functions will be the responsibility of local authorities. Local authorities must decide what represents a reasonable service in accordance with local needs. Where practicable, they should provide at least one acceptance point which, where possible, is open around the clock.
	£4 million per year for the three years of the revenue support grant period will be paid to local authorities in England and Wales. Future spending reviews will consider funding for the longer-term for all local authority services, including their responsibilities for stray dogs. Local authorities are free to spend the money they receive on the services they feel are appropriate for their area.

Waste and Resources Action Programme: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much central Government funding the Waste and Resources Action programme will receive in each of the next three years in cash terms.

Joan Ruddock: As a UK-wide programme, funding is provided to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) from DEFRA, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland).
	No final decisions on budget allocations from this Department have yet been made. The DEFRA financial settlement for 2008-11 increases the budget by 1.4 per cent. and it is important that spending is aligned with wider departmental priorities and gives best value for money. Operating an effective delivery service, combating climate change and protecting the natural environment are three of our key priorities and funding allocations will reflect this.

Waste Disposal: Costs

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 42-43W, on waste disposal: costs, what the average cost per household was of collecting household waste in councils with  (a) weekly rubbish collections and  (b) alternate weekly collections.

Joan Ruddock: DEFRA does not hold a list of local authorities operating alternate weekly collections of household waste. However, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) does hold some information to assist local authorities with support and guidance. This information has been made available in Hansard in response to previous questions on this topic.
	No comparative assessment of the variation in costs and frequencies of household waste collection services provided by local authorities in England has been made by DEFRA. Such an assessment would not provide meaningful results as, while we are aware that many local authorities operate household waste collections at frequencies other than weekly, we do not hold specific details on the types of scheme used and the extent of their coverage.
	The Government do not believe it is right to prescribe centrally how household waste is collected in different parts of the country. This is a matter for local authorities.

Waste Disposal: Crime

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what new powers have been given to local authorities to  (a) seize and  (b) inspect vehicles, in relation to waste offences, in the last 12 months.

Joan Ruddock: The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 introduced new powers for local authorities to instantly stop, search and seize vehicles involved in fly-tipping related offences. However, these powers have not yet been commenced.
	My Department is currently developing the detailed regulations that will give effect to these powers. A consultation is planned for May 2008 with the regulations planned to come into force in April 2009.

Waste Disposal: Domestic Waste

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate the Environment Agency has made of the proportion and volume of household rubbish that is burned by households in their gardens;
	(2)  what estimate  (a) his Department and  (b) the Environment Agency has made of the number of households who burn household rubbish in their garden;
	(3)  what research  (a) his Department and  (b) the Environment Agency has undertaken into burning of household waste inside the curtilage of domestic dwellings.

Joan Ruddock: No specific assessment has been made by my Department or the Environment Agency of the level of burning of domestic waste by households in England.
	Complaints about statutory smoke nuisance from domestic bonfires, or the burning of other materials, are made at the local authority level. Statistics are not held centrally by my Department. However, in 2006 DEFRA published a research project to review complaints received by local authorities about bonfire smoke, which advised on the legal and practical remedies available to local authorities and private individuals. It reported that a total of 29,147 complaints were made to local authorities in 2000; and that in a part year survey of 2004 involving 47 local authorities 5,424 complaints were made. The research report did not attempt to analyse the type of burning that was the subject of complaint.
	In addition, DEFRA carried out research into emissions of dioxins from the burning of domestic waste in 2006. The review recommended that further work should be done to establish what practical measures could be taken to reduce dioxin emissions from bonfires and domestic combustion and, consequently, exposure to dioxins. Further work in estimating dioxin emissions from domestic burning is currently being undertaken by my Department. Results from the on-going work will be due later this year.

Waste Disposal: Domestic Waste

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance his Department has given waste collection authorities on  (a) closed lid polices and  (b) no side waste policies in relation to the collection of household waste.

Joan Ruddock: Following requests by local authorities for clarification of the legislation regarding 'side waste', DEFRA sent a letter in August 2005 to all English waste authorities setting out our interpretation of the legislation. A copy of this letter is available on DEFRA's website.
	No advice has been offered by DEFRA on the subject of closed lid policies. However, section 3.11.2 of the waste and resources action programme's (WRAP) revised advice on alternate weekly collections, published on 16 July 2007, includes a short statement on closed lid/no side waste policies. However, the decision on whether to adopt either of these policies is one for each individual local authority to take.

Waste Disposal: Domestic Waste

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what additional funding is being provided to local authorities undertaking the rubbish tax pilots;
	(2)  whether additional funding will be given to local authorities taking part in the pilots for new bin taxes.

Joan Ruddock: As I said in my written ministerial statement to Parliament of 15 November 2007, DEFRA has committed up to £1.5 million per year over three years to help support the waste incentive pilot schemes.

Waste Disposal: Domestic Waste

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanisms will be used to tackle non-payment by residents of the proposed charges for the collection of household waste; and whether the rubbish collection of non-payers will be cancelled for non-payment.

Joan Ruddock: It is envisaged that local authorities would be able to recover any money owed by residents through the courts as a civil debt.
	Local authorities' duty to collect household waste would still apply.

Waste Disposal: Domestic Waste

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department's definition of revenue neutral for its proposals for new taxes on the collection of household rubbish would include the costs of  (a) technology to weigh individual bins,  (b) computer systems to record bin weights and generate invoices,  (c) administration of customer databases,  (d) systems for dealing with rented property and houses of multiple occupation,  (e) systems for dealing with disputes, non-payment and bad debts,  (f) enforcement,  (g) publicity and promotion and  (h) clearing up additional fly-tipping; and whether the householder would be expected to pay for these additional costs via  (i) the rubbish tax and (ii) council tax.

Joan Ruddock: Revenue collected through charges under a waste incentive scheme could not be used to cover any costs.
	Whether local authorities incur the costs listed here, will depend in large part on how the schemes are designed. In any case, authorities may be able to avoid or limit many of these costs, through effective planning and communication.
	Modelling commissioned by my Department suggests that local authorities could make savings more than sufficient to pay for the costs of waste incentive schemes. These savings arise as a result of less waste for the authority to collect and dispose of.
	My Department is also providing up to £1.5 million per year for three years to help support the pilots.

Waste Disposal: Domestic Waste

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which organisations have been contacted to tender for the contract to conduct the evaluations into the pilots for new bin taxes.

Joan Ruddock: No organisations have been contacted.

Waste Disposal: Domestic Waste

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for introduction of new charges for the collection of household rubbish.

Joan Ruddock: There is no timetable for the introduction of the five pilot household waste incentive schemes (including those which have a charging element) announced last year. However, as stated during the Communities and Local Government Select Committee's hearing on waste on 17 December 2007, the earliest the pilots are likely to start (including those which have a charging element) is April 2009. The exact timing will be subject to the parliamentary process.

Waste Disposal: Domestic Waste

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department are developing or researching policy in relation to  (a) charging for the collection of household waste and  (b) the frequency at which household waste is collected.

Joan Ruddock: One full-time and two part-time members of staff are currently working on the proposals announced last year for pilot waste collection schemes to encourage waste reduction and recycling.
	The Environmental Protection Act 1990 provides obligations and powers to local authorities for household waste collection. The Government do not believe it is right to centrally prescribe the frequency with which household waste is collected in different parts of the country. That is a matter for local authorities and the Government are not developing or researching policy in this area.
	The policy team responsible for existing collection and disposal legislation spends a small proportion of its time responding to queries about frequency of collection.

Waste Disposal: Domestic Waste

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the starting date for the pilots for the proposed household rubbish collection tax is.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 9 January 2008
	There is no timetable for the introduction of the five pilot household waste incentive schemes (including those which have a charging element) announced last year. However, as stated during the Communities and Local Government Select Committee's hearing on waste on 17 December 2007, the earliest the pilots are likely to start (including those which have a charging element) is April 2009. The exact timing will be subject to the parliamentary process.

Waste Disposal: Domestic Waste

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the maximum charge that can be levied per year by waste collection authorities under the new proposed household rubbish collection tax is planned to be.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 9 January 2008
	Powers provided in the Climate Change Bill allow five local authorities to pilot incentives to encourage household waste minimisation and recycling.
	No maximum charge has been set, although the Government retain a reserved power to create a cap on the level of incentive in the future, should this be necessary.
	Since local authorities will not be able to keep any revenue which they collect through pilot schemes, they have no incentive to raise the level of the payments beyond what will encourage positive behaviour. Experience in other countries where incentive schemes are in operation also suggests that payments do not need to be high to be effective. For example, variable charges in the region of £30 to £50 have been shown to drive behaviour change overseas.

Waste Management: Northern Ireland

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions and communications  (a) his Department and  (b) the Waste Resources Action Programme have had with the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment in relation to the Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy 2006-2020 and bringing forward for public consultation proposals to give councils powers to charge for the collection of household waste.

Joan Ruddock: The Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy 2006-20 contains a commitment to consult publicly on proposals for financial incentive schemes to encourage householder separation of waste. Such schemes would be administered by district councils in Northern Ireland.
	We have shared policy thinking on waste management with the Devolved Administrations and have kept them informed about the waste incentive scheme proposals. My Department is in contact with Northern Ireland across the full range of waste regulation issues.
	The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has had no discussions with Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland (DoENI) in relation to financial incentives. However WRAP has had discussions with DoENI about how it might help implement other elements of the strategy.

Water: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average water bill in  (a) England and Wales and  (b) each water company area was for an unmetered household with (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three and (iv) four bedrooms in the latest period for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: Ofwat is the economic regulator of the water and sewerage industry in England and Wales and sets price limits for each water company at price reviews.
	 (a) The average unmetered water bill in England and Wales is £325. The following table shows Ofwat's breakdown of the average unmetered household water and sewerage bill for 2007-08 in England and Wales.
	
		
			   Average unmetered water bill 
			Amount (£) 
			 Water 157 
			 Sewerage 167 
			 Combined 325 
		
	
	 (b) Unmetered charges for water are based on the rateable value of the property not number of bedrooms. Ofwat does not collect specific information or average water bills broken down by number of bedrooms.

Water: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research has been conducted by  (a) his Department and  (b) OFWAT into the relative distributional effects of rateable value for domestic water bills following the publication by his Department of the Cross-Government Review of Water Affordability report in 2004.

Phil Woolas: Since publishing the cross Government review of water affordability we have been working closely with water companies and Ofwat on a project looking at the distributional effects of a range of measured and unmeasured tariffs, including under the current regulatory framework. We will be looking at this work in the context of the new DEFRA water strategy which will be published early this year.

Wolves

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions his Department has held on the reintroduction of wild wolves into the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: My Department has held no discussions on the reintroduction of wolves into England and we have no plans for any such reintroduction.
	This is a devolved issue and is the responsibility of respective devolved administrations within the UK.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of Taliban members who surrendered to ISAF forces then subsequently returned to join anti-western forces.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 13 December 2007,  Official Report, column 773W.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of Taliban commanders who surrendered in Afghanistan as a result of  (a) diplomatic and  (b) military actions.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 11 December 2007,  Official Report, column 394W.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) commanders and  (b) foot soldiers surrendered to (i) the International Security Assistance Force and (ii) the Afghan National Army in each month in 2007.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 18 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1444W.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the statement by the Prime Minister of 12 December 2007,  Official Report, column 304, on Afghanistan, what proportion of helicopter missions by British forces are used for  (a) military tasks and  (b) moving routine freight in Regional Command South; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: ISAF records for helicopter usage do not make a distinction between flights for "military tasks" and those for "moving routine freight" because the movement of freight—logistic movement—is a military task. To maximise usage of available aviation capacity, helicopter missions invariably move both personnel and freight. Accordingly we do not hold this information centrally and the question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the statement by the Prime Minister of 12 December 2007,  Official Report, column 310, on Afghanistan, when he expects the eight Chinook helicopters to be ready for service; and whether any will be sent to Afghanistan.

Des Browne: As I announced on 18 December 2006,  Official Report, column 106WS, we expect the first aircraft to be available for operations in 2009 and all eight from 2010. Decisions on the operational deployment of these aircraft will be taken closer to the time.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the statement by the Prime Minister of 12 December 2007,  Official Report, column 312, on Afghanistan, if he will define the phrase, next period of time, as used with reference to the deployment of Sea King, Chinook and Merlin helicopters to Afghanistan.

Des Browne: The deployment of additional Sea Kings to Afghanistan will be complete by April 2008. As I announced on 18 December 2007,  Official Report, column 106WS, we expect the first Chinooks to be available for operations in 2009 and all eight from 2010. Merlin is currently deployed in Iraq; we are currently examining the balance of our helicopter force levels across theatres, and this will include the deployment of Merlin helicopters to Afghanistan in due course, subject to operational requirements.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many medical civic action programmes British forces have conducted in  (a) Kabul,  (b) Helmand and  (c) Kandahar provinces since 2005;
	(2)  how many medical civic action programmes British forces have conducted without assistance from the United States military in Afghanistan since 2005.

Des Browne: UK forces do not undertake medical civic action programmes to provide direct delivery of medical care. UK forces may be involved in providing logistics and security for events carried out by the Government of Afghanistan or other nations and UK military medical personnel may also act as observers during these events in order to identify best practice with regard to the emergency treatment of local nationals.

Armed Forced: Prosthetics

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials have had with the Department of Health to discuss the ongoing care of armed forces veterans with C-leg limb prostheses.

Derek Twigg: The Defence Medical Services attach a high priority to ensuring a smooth and seamless transition of care upon medical discharge, including for those service personnel with prostheses such as C-leg limbs (an advanced lower-leg prosthetic). Officials are currently working with their NHS counterparts and Department of Health officials to address the feasibility of establishing relationships with a small number of NHS facilities that could offer a service to veterans comparable to that provided to serving members by the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court. Two such centres have been visited to date and their response has been very positive. Further visits are planned in the coming months, after which detailed procedures will be drawn up to enable veterans to access these regional centres if they so wish. The Department is also engaged in similar discussions with the devolved administrations.

Armed Forces: Coroners

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of providing legal representation for  (a) the families of servicemen and women killed on operations which were paid for by his Department and  (b) his Department at coroners' inquests in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
	 Substantive letter from Bob Ainsworth to Bernard Jenkin:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question (174665) on 17 December 2007, (Official Report, column 1023W) about:
	"the cost of providing legal representation for the families of servicemen and women killed on operations, the Department and for the Department at coroners' inquests in the last 12 months for which figures are available."
	With respect to the funding for the families of Service personnel, the Legal Services Commission is responsible for legal aid. Legal aid is not usually available for representation at inquests because an inquest is a fact-finding process to determine who the deceased was and when, where and how he or she died. It is not adversarial. However, as a result of changes introduced by the Government (under the Access to Justice Act 1999) legal aid can now be granted in cases, such as inquests, where it is not normally available, but only where there are exceptional circumstances. There are published criteria that help determine whether a case is exceptional. Applications for exceptional funding must be made to the Legal Services Commission and where the Commission considers that the criteria have been met the application will be passed to the Ministry of Justice for consideration. Where conditions have been met, legal aid has been provided to service families.
	For the majority of inquests, MOD does not have legal representation because they are non-adversarial, fact-finding proceedings. However, on some occasions the MOD, as an "interested person" may engage Counsel to assist the coroner in establishing the relevant facts surrounding the death, particularly in cases which are complex, often involving sensitive matters relating to national security. The presence of Counsel may make the proceedings appear more formal, but it does not change the fact-finding nature of an inquest. The MOD believes that the assistance we can provide to the coroner in these cases, and thus the proceedings more generally, is worthwhile and of benefit to everyone involved. From 1 January 2007 to 14 December 2007, the MOD has been billed for £793,971.66 on legal representation at the inquests of Service personnel and Service related deaths (the majority of which will be for operational deaths).
	As mentioned above, legal aid for the families of Service personnel is ultimately the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice and it would therefore not be appropriate for the MOD to fund legal representation. Nonetheless, the MOD takes its responsibilities towards the families of deceased seriously. All casualties and deaths suffered by the UK Armed Forces are a source of profound regret. Nevertheless support to families is part of our debt to those who have given their lives, from the time when the tragic news must be conveyed to the next of kin, through to the potentially difficult experience of a Coroner's inquest and beyond.
	The MOD has robust policies and procedures in place to ensure the best possible support is offered to all families. These procedures are continually under review to ensure they reflect the needs and expectations of all those concerned. Support is given to families through visiting officers who are drawn from members of the Services and who have received relevant training. Visiting officers are appointed to act as a liaison, through regular contact, between the bereaved family and the Services. They establish links with the various agencies to provide ongoing support, both financial and emotional, and help the bereaved family to adjust to life without their loved one. Specific financial help is available to the bereaved family to help meet the costs of the funeral, incidental funeral expenses, travel and accommodation and subsistence to attend the repatriation ceremony and the pre-inquest and inquest hearing.
	I am placing a copy of this in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces: Firearms

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) SA-80 assault rifles and  (b) 9mm Browning pistols were reported (i) lost or missing and later recovered and (ii) lost or missing and not recovered by British armed forces in the United Kingdom in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: The information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, I am able to provide the total number of MOD owned rifles and pistols lost or stolen from UK based units from 2000 to 2007 which is shown in the following tables. No reliable information is held prior to this period.
	
		
			Pistol   Rifle (mil) 
			Lost   Recovered   Lost   Recovered 
			 2000 2 2 0 0 
			 2001 2 1 0 0 
			 2002 1 0 6 5 
			 2003 1 1 1 1 
			 2004 4 1 0 0 
			 2005 2 2 1 1 
			 2006 1 1 1 1 
			 2007 2 0 1 0 
			 Total 15 8 10 8 
		
	
	
		
			Pistol   Rifle(mil) 
			Stolen   Recovered   Stolen   Recovered 
			 2000 25 6 0 0 
			 2001 2 1 2 0 
			 2002 1 0 2 1 
			 2003 2 0 18 4 
			 2004 1 1 7 3 
			 2005 3 0 7 1 
			 2006 3 1 5 0 
			 2007 3 0 3 1 
			 Total 40 9 44 10

Armed Forces: Health Services

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of the decision to charge nurses employed by his Department £15 for influenza inoculations on the operational effectiveness of the armed forces.

Derek Twigg: All military and civilian nurses working for the Ministry of Defence are eligible to receive any necessary influenza inoculations free of charge at service medical centres.

Armed Forces: Housing

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints were made to Modern Housing Solutions in each of the last 12 months.

Derek Twigg: The number of complaints received in each of the last 12 months is as follows:
	
		
			Number 
			 January 2007 651 
			 February 2007 551 
			 March 2007 593 
			 April 2007 460 
			 May 2007 427 
			 June 2007 401 
			 July 2007 744 
			 August 2007 650 
			 September 2007 631 
			 October 2007 744 
			 November 2007 572 
			 December 2007 488

Armed Forces: Rehabilitation

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support his Department provides to help rehabilitate servicemen and women on their return from active service in the armed forces.

Derek Twigg: It is assumed that the question refers to our post-operational stress management policy. This applies to all the Armed Services, although each has its own individual processes that recognise its particular structure and culture. Operational deployments can be very stressful experiences, so wherever possible we look to offer individuals briefing prior to returning to their home base. Where possible a "decompression period" is arranged during which personnel can begin to unwind mentally and physically after their operational tour while having time to talk to colleagues and superiors with whom they have deployed about their experiences. Decompression can take place in a number of locations, for example in theatre while waiting for the return flight, or the Commander can arrange for it to take place in a third location (i.e. not home base and not theatre), such as Cyprus. For seagoing units, including embarked forces, decompression usually occurs as a matter of routine during the return passage to the UK which may include one or more operational standoffs or foreign port visits providing an opportunity for individuals to separate themselves, albeit briefly, from their working environment. Alternatively, Service personnel returning from operations can spend a period of time in their home base location to assist with the winding down period prior to progressing to Post Operational Tour leave. Access to specialised mental healthcare is available if required, both during the decompression period and back in the UK at MOD's regional Departments of Community Mental Health.
	The families of returning personnel are also offered presentations and issued with leaflets to alert them to the possible after-affects of an operational deployment. Welfare Officers, Padres, and other associated organisations (such as regimental and other support groups) also provide information and advice to families.
	Reservists are treated in a similar fashion where possible, with all having access to the Regular welfare support system or having support delivered through their parent unit. All Reserve units in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force have Welfare Officers, while in the Territorial Army the Regimental Operational Support Officer will perform Welfare duties. Their duties will include support to the families of mobilised reserves, including the provision of briefing and leaflets.
	Where mobilised Reservists are returning to regular civilian employment, support and advice is available to the civilian employer to help them understand the potential after-effects of an operational deployment on an individual.

Armed Forces: Schools

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the mobility rate was for each service children's education  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school in the last academic year.

Derek Twigg: In order to combine primary and secondary statistics within a single database, Service Children's Education (SCE) is currently revising the Data Collection System employed to monitor pupil mobility rates in SCE schools. I shall write to the hon. Member once this information becomes available.

Armed Forces: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training airborne jumps have been conducted by British service personnel in each year since 2001; and how many of these jumps were made from a  (a) C-17 Globemaster,  (b) C-130K Hercules,  (c) C-130J Hercules,  (d) other aeroplanes,  (e) Chinook helicopters and  (f) other helicopters in each year.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows the total number of annual parachute descents by entitled service personnel conducted between 2001 and 2007 broken down by aircraft type. This includes displays conducted by the RAF Falcons display team, whose descents cannot be broken out from the annual parachute descents.
	
		
			   Year   Total descents   C-17 Globemaster(  1)   C130(  2)   Other aircraft   Chinook   Other helicopters 
			 2001 27,721 0 24,265 3,234 25 197 
			 2002 21,510 0 16,509 4,865 0 136 
			 2003 16,022 0 10,688 5,070 0 264 
			 2004 25,692 0 20,030 5,610 0 52 
			 2005 12,932 0 9,394 3,462 0 76 
			 2006 10,761 0 8,449 2,139 0 173 
			 2007(3) 10,001 0 9,554 203 0 244 
			 (1) Although the C17 Globemaster has a parachute capability it is not used for parachute training as the aircraft have been designated for strategic airlift. (2) We cannot differentiate between the C130 variants. (3) Only includes figures to October.

Athena

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much expenditure from the public purse has been spent on European Security and Defence Policy military operations  (a) under the Athena mechanism and  (b) not under the Athena mechanism since January 2004, broken down by operation.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 10 January 2008
	The amount spent on ESDP military operations since January 2004 under the Athena mechanism is set out as shown.
	The amount spent on ESDP military operations since January 2004 not under the Athena mechanism format includes national borne costs which are held theatre wide rather than for NATO/ESDP (for example in the Balkans). Further work is therefore required to determine these costs as accurately as possible. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as this work is complete.
	
		
			   EU operation   Where   When   Under ATHENA (£ million) 
			 ALTHEA (Bosnia and Herzegovina Since July 2004 15.177 
			 EUFORDRC Democratic Republic of Congo April 2006 to November 2006 1.417 
			 EUFOR CHAD/CAR CHAD/ Central African Republic Yet to deploy 5.902 
			 Total — — 22.496

Christmas

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on the selection of  (a) real and  (b) artificial Christmas trees for his Department's festive decorations; and how real trees are disposed of.

Derek Twigg: The Government's timber procurement policy, which requires that all timber and wood-containing products procured by Departments, including the Ministry of Defence, must come from legal, and preferably sustainable, sources, applies to the selection of real Christmas trees. There is no central Departmental policy on the selection of artificial Christmas trees. It is our policy that Christmas trees should be recycled after use.

Defence Aviation Repair Agency: Privatisation

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will visit the Defence Aviation Repair Agency Fleetlands and Almondbank to discuss with staff the reasons for the consideration of the privatisation of the agency and to inspect facilities.

Bob Ainsworth: My right hon. Friend Baroness Ann Taylor, the Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, has already met with trade union officials at local and national level on this matter.
	In addition, MOD officials have and continue to consult with all staff and relevant trade unions on matters concerning the future direction of the businesses.

Defence Aviation Repair Agency: Privatisation

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the  (a) benefits and  (b) risks of privatising the Defence Aviation Repair Agency.

Bob Ainsworth: I announced on 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 74WS, that, following a robust evaluation of bids from industry, work would continue to assess whether sale offers best overall value for Defence for the remaining Defence Aviation Repair Agency Rotary Wing and Components businesses that would not be merging into the Defence Support Group.
	As part of this assessment, officials are currently considering the benefits and risks before a final decision is made.

Defence: Finance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the defence budget was for Northern Ireland in each of the last 30 years at 2007 prices.

Bob Ainsworth: The information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	General Officer Commanding (GOC) Northern Ireland was established as a separate Top Level Budget Holder (TLB) between 1992-93 and 2006-07. However, I provided information on all MOD Budget Holders (Sub Head) allocations for the last seven years in my letter of 30 November 2007, to the hon. Member for West Dorset (Mr. Letwin). A copy of my reply and the relevant information is available in the Library of the House. The HM Treasury website provides information regarding comparative pricing (the GDP deflator) at:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/Economic_Data_and_Tools/GDP_Deflators/data_gdp_index.cfm

Defence: Northumberland

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Department's grounds for objection to recent wind farm planning applications in Northumberland apply to other proposed wind farm sites in the parts of Northumberland identified in the regional planning strategy as areas of least constraint for wind farm applications; and whether he is proposing any modification of the strategy to meet defence operational requirements.

Derek Twigg: The decision whether or not to object to a planning application for one or more wind turbines is taken on a case-by-case basis and the decision in one case does not automatically relate to another. The key issues are whether proposed turbines will affect Ministry of Defence (MOD) interests such as operations and safety, and, if they do, whether the predicted effects will be manageable.
	The Government office for the north east is in the process of drafting the north east regional spatial strategy and their officials are in discussion with MOD to ensure that MOD interests are adequately represented and protected in all relevant new and revised strategy and guidance documents.

Departmental Catering

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of  (a) beef,  (b) lamb,  (c) pork and  (d) dairy products used in his departmental headquarters were imported products in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the data published in the report deposited in the House of Commons Library on 8 November 2007 giving the proportion of UK produce supplied to Government Departments, the NHS and HM Prison Service. A copy of the report is also available on the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI) website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/procurement/pdf/govt-food-usage.pdf

Departmental Domestic Visits

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what plans  (a) he has and  (b) his ministerial colleagues have to visit wounded service men and women;
	(2)  on which occasions  (a) he and  (b) his ministerial colleagues visited wounded service men and women in each of the last two years;
	(3)  on which occasions  (a) he and  (b) his ministerial colleagues attended (i) funerals and (ii) memorial services of service men and women in each of the last two years.

Derek Twigg: Defence Ministers make, and shall continue to make, frequent visits to wounded service personnel both in the UK and overseas. Since 1 January 2006 a total of 42 visits have been made to visit wounded personnel in hospitals in the UK and overseas, including field hospitals in the operational theatres in Iraq and Afghanistan. The following list gives the visits made by each Minister.
	In addition, Ministers meet personnel in the UK once they have returned from operational duty. On some of these occasions Ministers have met with injured personnel and their families.
	 Secretary of State for Defence (Total 14)
	Visit to field hospital at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan between 6 and 10 August 2007;
	Visited the Royal Centre of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 17 May 2007;
	Visited the field hospital at the Basra air station in Iraq on 28 April to 2 May 2007;
	Visited the field hospital at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan on 30 March to 2 April 2007;
	Visited the field hospital at the Basra air station in Iraq on 29 to 30 January 2007;
	Visited the field hospital at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan on 23 to 24 October 2006;
	Visited the Royal Centre of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 27 September 2006;
	Visited the Royal Centre of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 15 August 2006;
	Visited the Defence Medical and Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court on 15 August 2006;
	Visited the field hospital at Shaibah logistics base in Iraq on 18 May 2006;
	Visited Afghanistan on 24 to 26 April 2006;
	Visited the field hospital at Shaibah logistics base in Iraq on 18 March 2006.
	Visited the Defence Medical and Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court on 20 January 2006;
	Visited the Royal College of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 20 January 2006.
	 Minister for the Armed Forces (Total 11)
	Visited the field hospital at Basra air station in Iraq on 17 to 20 December 2007;
	Visited the Royal College of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 15 October 2007;
	Visited the Defence Medical and Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court on 25 July 2007;
	Visited the field hospital at Basra air station in Iraq on 19 to 22 July 2007;
	Visited the field hospital at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan on 9 to 12 July 2007;
	Visited the Royal College of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 1 May 2007;
	Visited the field hospital at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan on 20 to 21 December 2006;
	Visited the field hospital at Basra air station in Iraq on 28 to 30 September 2006;
	Visited the field hospital at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan on 4 to 8 September 2006;
	Visited the Defence Medical and Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court on 10 July 2006;
	Visited 7th Armoured Brigade in Germany on 8 to 9 May 2006.
	 Minister for Defence Equipment and Support (formerly Minister for Defence Procurement) (Total 3)
	Visited the field hospital at the Basra air station in Iraq on 9 March 2007;
	Visited the Defence Medical and Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court on 23 February 2007;
	Visited the field hospital at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan on 5 to 7 October 2006.
	 Under Secretary of State (Total 16)
	Visited the Royal College of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 20 December 2007;
	Visited the Defence Medical and Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court on 19 December 2007;
	Visited the Royal Hospital Neurological Department, Putney on 29 November 2007;
	Visited the Royal College of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 1 October 2007;
	Visited the field hospital at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan on 17 September 2007;
	Visited the Royal Hospital Neurological Department, Putney on 10 August 2007;
	Visited the Defence Medical and Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court on 18 July 2007;
	Visited the Royal College of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 22 June 2007;
	Visited the Defence Medical and Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court on 20 June 2007;
	Visited the Royal College of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 5 April 2007;
	Visited the field hospital at the Basra air station in Iraq on 1 to 2 February 2007;
	Visited the field hospital at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan on 29 to 30 January 2007;
	Visited the Royal College of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 21 December 2006,
	Visited the Defence Medical and Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court on 21 November 2006;
	Visited the Royal College of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 6 October 2006;
	Visited Royal College of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 16 June 2006.
	Funeral services of deceased service personnel are private events and it is for the family of the deceased service person to decide who they wish to attend the funeral. No Defence Minister has been invited to attend any funeral of any service person in the past two years. Ministers have attended services of remembrance when invited.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of Freedom of Information requests received by his Department have given rise to responses that have been published by his Department.

Derek Twigg: The following table details the number of requests received, and the number and percentage of these which have been published via the online Disclosure Log in each of the last three years since the FOI Act came into force. Figures for 2007 are currently available only up until the end of September of that year.
	
		
			RFIs received   Responses published on the Disclosure Log   Percentage of published responses as a proportion of the total of RFIs received 
			 January to December 2005 4,604 127 2.8 
			 January to December 2006 3,300 63 1.9 
			 January to September 2007 2,287 132 5.8 
			 Total 10,191 322 3.2 
		
	
	The Disclosure Log is available at the MOD's website at:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FreedomOfInformation/DisclosureLog
	and is easily accessible from the main FOI website, www.foi.mod.uk

Departmental Freedom of Information

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria are used to decide which of his Department's responses to requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 are published on the Department's website; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 7 January 2008
	Where responses to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act are judged to be of wider public interest, the Ministry of Defence publishes them through the Department's online Disclosure Log. In determining which responses are of wider public interest, the Ministry of Defence assesses whether responses meet one or more of the following criteria:
	response to a request received from parliamentarians, businesses and academics;
	response to a request received from the media;
	response containing information relating to topical or high-profile subjects or judged to be of interest to the wider public, or that promote the transparency or accountability of MOD;
	response to a repeated or common request; and
	response to a request that asks for a copy of a response to a previous request.
	These criteria are broadly in line with the "Best Practice Guidance on Disclosure Logs" issued by the then Department for Constitutional Affairs in 2005. However, these criteria are neither prescriptive nor exhaustive, and other responses are considered for publication if they are identified as potentially being of wider public interest.

Departmental Pay

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2007,  Official Report, column 578W, on departmental pay, how many of those earning over £100,000 were employed  (a) as special advisers and  (b) in a political role in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the number of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information, I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 147-51WS.
	Information on the number and costs of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and this information is available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Responsibilities

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which  (a) reports,  (b) surveys and  (c) studies his Department has (i) commissioned, (ii) conducted and (iii) completed in the last six months; and what the purpose was of each.

Derek Twigg: The Department keeps all its activities, processes and structures under regular review. As a result, a wide range of internal and external reports, surveys and studies are being carried out at any one time. Information on these is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

English Language

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: Total identified MOD expenditure on English language training support for the financial year 2006-07 was £720,000.
	There are no identified costs for English language classes for the Royal Navy, the RAF or MOD civilians. The MOD's requirement for English language training support is primarily for Gurkha and Commonwealth recruits to the Army.
	The total cost for Gurkha Language Wing for Financial Year 2006-07 was £678,000. This cost includes both English language training for Gurkha soldiers and the teaching of Nepali to British officers of the Brigade of Gurkhas and other attached British personnel. Individual costs are not separately identifiable. English language support across the rest of the Army is provided by basic skills development managers.

Iraq: Detainees

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 1224-5W, on Iraq: detainees, whether the United States authorities have at any time requested British consent for any individual to be transferred to the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.

Des Browne: holding answer  10 January 2008
	 We have no record of the United States' authorities making any request for our consent to transfer an individual to their detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, and no record of any such individual being transferred without our consent.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by how much UK troop numbers in Iraq were reduced in each of the last six months in net terms; and by how much UK troop numbers are expected to be reduced in each of the next six months, in net terms.

Des Browne: The following table sets out for each of the last six months the net reduction in the number of established UK military posts in Iraq.
	
		
			   2007   Net reduction in posts   Cumulative total 
			 July 0 0 
			 August 100 100 
			 September 300 400 
			 October 100 500 
			 November 600 1,100 
			 December 0 1,100 
		
	
	By the end of January 2008, we aim to have reduced the number of posts in Iraq by a further 350. Work continues to plan for future force level reductions, down to around 2,500 in southern Iraq from spring 2008, in line with the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 8 October 2007,  Official Report, column 23. We are unable at present to provide a month-by-month projection of this reduction. Our plans will, of course, be guided by the advice of our military commanders and are subject to conditions on the ground.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1458W, on Iraq: peacekeeping operations, what plans he has to instruct commercial barristers in respect of the Hercules inquest.

Des Browne: In my answer of 18 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1458W, to the hon. Member, I confirmed the costs that MOD has incurred in engaging external legal advice and representation in respect of the Hercules inquest. Such representation includes instructing the Treasury Solicitors and Crown Counsel who will represent the Department at the inquest.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 23 November 2007, ref: MC06419/2007.

Derek Twigg: I replied to the hon. Member on 18 December.

Military Bases: USA

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Tiger Team report into security at RAF bases occupied by US forces.

Bob Ainsworth: I will place a digest of the USAFE Tiger Team report on security at RAF bases provided by the UK for the use of US visiting forces in the Library of the House. This is already in the public domain following a request from a member of the public in 2006. A copy of the digest is enclosed with this answer for ease of reference. The full report has been exempted from publication under Section 31 (Law Enforcement) and Section 38 (Health and Safety) of the Freedom of Information Act.

Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to change the number of Ministry of Defence police officers.

Derek Twigg: The forecast for MDP officers in 2008 is currently approximately 3,500. Security at MOD establishments is kept under constant review and future numbers will reflect the needs of the Department.

Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what roles Ministry of Defence police officers have in supporting the British armed forces.

Derek Twigg: The main crime and security risks faced by the Ministry of Defence are terrorist attack, disruption and disorder caused by protestors, theft of key assets and major financial fraud. To combat these risks the Ministry of Defence police provides armed security, uniformed policing and the investigation of minor and serious crime.

Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the recruiting targets for Ministry of Defence police officers were in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence police has no set annual targets for recruitment. Instead it keeps recruiting requirements under constant review and recruits sufficient police constables to meet the numbers required to allow the chief constable to discharge his civilian policing function across the Defence Estate.

Netherlands: International Cooperation

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2007,  Official Report, column 842W, on the Netherlands: international co-operation, which units form the existing UK/Netherlands Amphibious Landing Force; how many joint training exercises between the UK and the Netherlands were conducted in support of the UK/Netherlands Amphibious Landing Force in each year since its creation; and what percentage of funding for the UK/Netherlands Amphibious Landing Force was paid by  (a) the UK and  (b) the Netherlands in each year since its creation.

Des Browne: The Netherlands Amphibious Landing Force (UK/NL LF) is not a standing force but a framework for long term cooperation between 3 Commando Brigade and the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps that was first conceived in 1973. From 1973-91 two joint training exercises were held annually, one in Norway during the winter and one on Salisbury plain during the summer.
	Since 1991 joint training exercises have been less regular, typically taking place as work up training for operational deployment of the UK/NL LF, such as northern Iraq in 1991 and Bosnia in 1995. Joint training exercises took place in 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007 and two joint training exercises of the UK/NL LF are planned for 2008.
	As with all NATO activities the principle of funding for the UK/NL LF is that costs lie where they fall; each nation therefore pays its own costs.

Prince William

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what application procedures were followed in respect of Prince William's training to be a pilot; which of the armed forces he will be attached to after training; to which unit; what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of training Prince William as a pilot; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: His Royal Highness Prince William attended the Officers and Aircrew Selection Centre and a medical board prior to his attachment to the Royal Air Force and he met the standards required to be trained as a pilot. He will continue to be attached to the Royal Air Force once he has completed his flying training, gaining experience with several different units, to familiarise him further with the Royal Air Force, its structure, roles, history and ethos. No specific estimate has been made of the cost of his flying training but it is unlikely to exceed that of equivalent training undertaken by other trainees. After his time with the RAF, Prince William will be attached to the Royal Navy. As with the RAF, he will spend time gaining an understanding of the fullest spectrum of the Royal Navy's capabilities—from submarines to the ships of the surface fleet, including the Royal Marines and Fleet Air Arm.

Princess Royal Barracks

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has held with local authorities on supplementary planning guidance needed to facilitate the redevelopment of Deepcut Barracks; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: There have been preliminary discussions with Surrey Heath borough council. The announcement that part of the site will be released for redevelopment after 2013 was timed to allow the site to be included in the council's core strategy. This will allow potential alternative uses to be discussed within the normal planning process.

RAF Kinloss

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many bedspaces his Department has of each classification on fitness for habitation for personnel based at  (a) RAF Kinloss and  (b) RAF Lossiemouth.

Derek Twigg: At 31 December 2007, the number of single living accommodation bedspaces at RAF Kinloss and RAF Lossiemouth, at each condition grade (Grade 1 being the highest and Grade 4 the lowest), is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of bed  spaces 
			   Grade   RAF Kinloss   RAF Lossiemouth 
			 Grade 1 379 99 
			 Grade 2 388 0 
			 Grade 3 59 770 
			 Grade 4 0 94 
			 Total 826 963

RAF: Training

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much it costs to train a Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot on  (a) fixed and  (b) rotary wing aircrafts; what commitment to further service in the RAF is required by applicants for training; what the criteria and application procedures are; how many applicants there were for such training in each of the last three years; and how many were successful.

Bob Ainsworth: Royal Air Force pilots continue to train throughout their careers and new entrants are not considered to have joined the trained strength until they have completed a course at an Operational Conversion Unit (OCU); on starting with an OCU, they incur an obligation to incur a minimum of six years further service following completion of their OCU tour. For the purposes of the information requested, the end of training has been defined as the point when a pilot moves to an OCU. At this point pilots have learnt to fly and are transferred to front-line aircraft types. The indicative cost to train a Royal Air Force pilot up to transfer to an Operational Conversion Unit is about £3.1 million for Fast Jet, £0.6 million for Multi-Engine and £0.8 million for Rotary Wing aircraft. These costs are for financial year 2007-08 and cover flying training and related activities, for example, recruitment, ground training, aircraft maintenance and training on simulators. They are made up of both direct and indirect costs, and include an allowance for broader MOD overheads.
	For a career as a pilot in the Royal Air Force, potential recruits need to be aged between 17 and a half and 23 years of age and have been a British citizen since birth or hold dual British/other nationality. The qualifications required are five GCSEs/SCEs at Grade C/3 minimum (to include English Language and Maths) and two A-levels or three Highers or equivalent. During the application process the aptitude, health and fitness of applicants is tested to ensure that they are ready for a career in the RAF. All applicants have to attend the Officers and Aircrew Selection Centre (OASC) based at Royal Air Force College Cranwell.
	The details of the numbers who applied to enter the Royal Air Force as a trainee pilot and the number who progressed into service in each of the last three financial years (rounded to the nearest 10) are as follows:
	
		
			   Financial year   Number of applicants   Number of pilots who progressed into service with the Royal Air Force 
			 2004-05 1,260 100 
			 2005-06 1,120 120 
			 2006-07 1,160 140

RM Condor

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many bed-spaces his Department has of each classification for fitness for habitation for personnel based at RM Condor in Arbroath.

Derek Twigg: As at 31 December 2007, the number of single living accommodation bed-spaces at RM Condor in Arbroath, at each condition grade (Grade 1 being the highest and Grade 4 the lowest), is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Grade   Number of bed-spaces 
			 1 383 
			 2 0 
			 3 566 
			 4 72 
			 Total 1,021

Special Boat Squadron: Pay

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  when he expects the Special Boat Service personnel serving in Afghanistan to receive their full pay;
	(2)  when the Specialist Pay Team last paid the salaries of the Special Boat Service in Afghanistan;
	(3)  what steps he has taken with the Specialist Pay Team to ensure the payment of the full salaries of the Special Boat Service in Afghanistan.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 29 November 2007
	Problems have been identified with the specialist pay components of total salary for a small number of members of the Special Boat Service. This is very much regretted. I have asked for the issues to be investigated and I will write to the hon. Member when the investigation is complete.
	 Substantive answer from Derek Twigg to Derek Wyatt:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Questions of 3 December 2007, (Official Report, column 844W), about the problems identified with the specialist pay components of the total salary received by a small number of the Special Boat Service personnel serving in Afghanistan. Clearly, any inconvenience caused to our personnel is very much regretted.
	Staff within the Royal Navy and the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) have completed their investigations and these have revealed that a small number of personnel did not have their employment category, grade scale and payroll type changed successfully on the JPA system on joining the SBS. The principle cause of these omissions has been identified as unfamiliarity with the new JPA processes. I can confirm that the issue was not caused by any problem with the JPA Information Technology system.
	In consultation with the SPVA, the Royal Navy Human Resource staff have made the necessary changes to the affected individuals' records. The JPA system has automatically recalculated and paid the relevant personnel their full entitlements in the December pay run, and I can confirm that the correct monies have now been credited to the individuals' bank accounts.
	The Royal Navy Human Resource staff have informed the affected personnel that the problem has been identified and remedial action taken. In addition, the Human Resource staff have received additional instructions and guidance to ensure that the error does not reoccur.
	In cases where Service personnel experience pay problems arrangements are in place for emergency payments to be made. Individuals have access to duty personnel at their parent units who are able to make arrangements for emergency issues of cash if required or arrange support by other units if, for example, an individual is on leave in the UK when normally based in Germany.
	Where problems do arise with the pay of personnel deployed on operations there is a fast track process, that can be instigated by either the individual Service person, or their spouse/partner in the UK, that allows the unit Human Resource staff direct access to the SPVA Customer Complaints Team.
	I hope this is helpful.

Vetting

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost was to vet a UK citizen to the level of  (a) developed vetting,  (b) security check,  (c) counter terrorism check and  (d) baseline personal security standard in the latest period for which figures are available.

Bob Ainsworth: The Defence Vetting Agency (DVA) is responsible for vetting applicants for security clearance (who need not necessarily be UK citizens) for members of the armed forces, civilians in the Ministry of Defence and Defence Industry and a number of other Government Departments (OGDs) on a repayment basis. The DVA does not undertake work for all OGDs, however, and the costs shown may not apply to clearances undertaken by OGDs on their own behalf.
	The Baseline Personnel Security Standard is a pre-employment check, not part of national security vetting, and as such is not carried out by the DVA.
	Individual vetting costs incurred by the DVA are as follows:
	
		
			£ 
			 Counter terrorist check 48.18 
			 Security check 52.88 
		
	
	Developed vetting: £794.30-£928.25 for initial cases and from £611.00-£707.35 for review cases, depending on the depth of the inquiries undertaken.
	These costs apply only to the work carried out by the DVA: additional costs are incurred before the application is received in the DVA and post DVA activity. In addition, work undertaken by another agency carrying out checks on the DVA's behalf is not included in the quoted prices, It is not possible to quantify these associated costs.

Warships: Security

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what security measures are taken to ensure the security of Royal Navy ships when in port in the United Kingdom.

Bob Ainsworth: In UK naval ports all Royal Navy ships are protected by the ports' own security arrangements including perimeter walls or fencing, access control, CCTV and armed foot and boat patrols. Each ship also has its own protection teams including armed sentries and an armed response force at short notice. For some vessels further fencing with access control to the jetty/berth, and a water-borne boom to enhance seaward security, is provided.
	In commercial UK ports, in addition to the ship's protection teams, bespoke advice is provided as to the security measures that are required. This is dependent on threat analysis and existing security measures in place within the port. It may include water-borne patrols, booms and jetty access control.

World War II: Medals

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Veteran Badges have been issued to residents of Hendon.

Derek Twigg: Since 18 April 2005 a total of 80 veterans' lapel badges have been issued to residents with a Hendon area postcode.

World War Two: Anniversaries

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding is available under the Heroes Return Scheme to  (a) veterans and  (b) war widows to visit war graves in 2007-08; and how many (i) veterans and (ii) war widows from (A) Hendon and (B) the UK have received funding since the scheme's inception.

Derek Twigg: The Heroes Return Scheme, funded by 'the Big Lottery', ran during the years 2004-05. During that period, 18,222 veterans and 1,553 widow(er)s in the UK, together with their carers, were assisted to travel to theatres where they or their spouses had previously served, to visit war graves, and to attend commemorative events surrounding the 60th anniversary of the end of the second world war. This included 31 veterans but no war widow(er)s resident in Hendon.
	The Government operate the War Widow(er)s Pilgrimage Scheme to enable war widow(er)s whose service husband or wife died as a result of military service overseas between 1914 and 1967 to make one visit to the grave/memorial, provided they have not done so before at public expense. Since 1967, the next-of-kin of personnel who died during service overseas have been given the option of having the body repatriated or for the burial to take place overseas and relatives to attend the funeral service.

TREASURY

Capital Gains Tax

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter of 9 November 2007 from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on capital gains tax and the loss of indexation allowance.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 18 December 2007
	I have replied to the hon. Member.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to whom letters of apology have been sent following the recent loss of data by HM Revenue and Customs; how many letters he expects to be sent; and what the cost is expected to be of sending those letters.

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent by HM Revenue and Customs in sending out letters of apology for the loss of the child benefit discs containing confidential personal data.

Jane Kennedy: For the year April 2006 to March 2007 HMRC handled approximately 300 million pieces of outgoing post at a cost of around £79 million.
	The cost of sending letters to the families affected by the recent loss of data by HMRC is estimated at £2.25 million including postage costs.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to how many people HM Revenue and Customs has written to advise them that their personal data were included on the two lost discs; how many families this accounted for; and what the total cost of this correspondence was.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 6 December 2007
	For the year April 2006 to March 2007 HMRC handled approximately 300 million pieces of outgoing post at a cost of around £79 million.
	The cost of sending letters to the families affected by the recent loss of data by HMRC is estimated at £2.25 million including postage costs.

Child Tax Credit

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds HM Revenue and Customs suspended the provision of information in relation to the chosen frequency of payment of child tax credit in December 2007.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC regularly review the data used for tax credit publications and it was decided that the information for table 7.1 could more efficiently be extracted from a different data source. Unfortunately this process was not completed in time for the pre-announced December 2007 publication date. The table will be reinstated in the April 2008 publication. The December 2007 publication will be updated at the same time.

Childbirth

Anne Milton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) live births and  (b) stillbirths there were in each region of England in 2006.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 January 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your request for information on how many live births and stillbirths there were in each region of England in 2006. (177976)
	The table below shows the number of live births and stillbirths in England by Government Office Region for 2006.
	
		
			   Live births and stillbirths by Government   o  ffice   r  egion in England, 2006 
			   Government office region  of usual residence   Live births   Stillbirths 
			 North East 29,184 156 
			 North West 84,155 453 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 62,955 343 
			 East Midlands 50,717 290 
			 West Midlands 67,688 379 
			 East 66,870 307 
			 London 120,898 762 
			 South East 98,566 479 
			 South West 54,715 249 
			 All 635,748 3,418

Conditional Cautions

David Kidney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of conditional cautions in bringing about the payment of compensation by offenders to victims.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	The conditional cautioning scheme is still in the process of being rolled out across England and Wales, with full coverage due by March 2008. While central collection of data began in 2005, concerns over quality, which we are currently addressing, mean that figures have yet to be published. However, information from the Crown Prosecution Service, made available to practitioners, shows that between 1 April 2005 and 30 November 2007, almost 5,000 conditional cautions were issued. Approximately 63 per cent. of these involved the payment of compensation. Data for the same period show a non-compliance rate for all conditional cautions of just under 6 per cent.

Conditional Cautions

David Kidney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many police forces have exercised their powers to issue conditional cautions since the Criminal Justice Act 2003 came into force; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Following piloting of the conditional cautioning scheme in 2005, national roll-out commenced in July 2006, and is due to be completed by March 2008. All 43 police forces in England and Wales are now operating a conditional cautioning scheme in at least one of their Basic Command Units and all areas have issued conditional cautions.

Death: Norfolk

Ian Gibson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many excess winter deaths were recorded in  (a) Norwich and  (b) Norfolk in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 January 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many excess winter excess deaths were recorded in  (a) Norwich and  (b) Norfolk in each of the last five years. (177801)
	Estimates of excess winter deaths relate to a four-month period from December of one year to March of the next year. The table attached provides the number of excess winter deaths in  (a) Norwich local authority district and  (b) Norfolk county for the years 2001-02 to 2005-06 (the latest available).
	
		
			   Table 1: Excess winter deaths(  1,2)  , Norwich local authority district and Norfolk county, 2001-02 to 2005-06 
			   Deaths (persons) 
			   Winter   Norwich   Norfolk 
			 2001-02 130 790 
			 2002-03 40 430 
			 2003-04 30 480 
			 2004-05 80 630 
			 2005-06 70 520 
			 (1 )The estimated number of excess winter deaths is the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding four months (August to November) and the following four months (April to July). Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. (2) Data are based on deaths occurring in each month.

Departmental Correspondence

Mark Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters his Department received from hon. Members and Peers in each session of Parliament since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. Information relating to 2007 will be published as soon as it has been collated. The report for 2006 was published on 28 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 101-04WS. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Pay

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2007,  Official Report, column 49W, on departmental pay, how many of those earning over £100,000 were employed  (a) as special advisers and  (b) in a political role in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the number of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 147-51WS.
	Information on the numbers and costs of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and this information will be available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Pay

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) his Department's agencies received bonuses in each year since 2002; and what the total sum paid in bonuses was in each case in each of those years.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) on 8 October 2007,  Official Report, column 218-19W.

Departmental Security Officer

Ben Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Departmental Security Officer for  (a) his Department and  (b) HM Revenue and Customs were appointed.

Jane Kennedy: The current Departmental Security Officers for HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs were appointed on  (a) 29 October 2007 and  (b)2 July 2007 respectively, following the retirement of their predecessors.

Electorate

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the  (a) number of electors and  (b) total population is of each United Kingdom parliamentary constituency;
	(2)  what the  (a) total population and  (b) number of electors in each new United Kingdom parliamentary constituency effective after the next general election is expected to be.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 January 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your questions asking what the (a) number of electors and (b) total population is of each United Kingdom parliamentary constituency; and what the (a) total population and (b) number of electors in each new United Kingdom parliamentary constituency effective after the next general election is expected to be (178958, 179018).
	The latest UK electoral statistics by parliamentary constituency are published on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) website. For a qualifying date of 1 December 2006 these can be downloaded from: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=14776&image.x=8&image.y=9. For a qualifying date of 1 May 2007 they can be downloaded from: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk-14963&image.x=16&image.y=7
	ONS is currently collecting electoral data for a qualifying date of 1 December 2007 both on the existing boundaries and the new England and Wales parliamentary constituencies that will come into effect after the next general election. Please note that some local authorities are able to supply data on existing boundaries only. This information is due to be published on 28 February 2008 and will be available to download from the 'UK Electoral Statistics—Datasets' link from: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/Product.asp?vlnk=319
	ONS does not currently have population estimates for parliamentary constituencies for the whole of the UK. However mid-2005 estimates for parliamentary constituencies covering England and Wales are due to be published in early 2008, a publication date has not yet been finalised; and mid-2006 estimates for parliamentary constituencies covering Scotland are due to be published on 1 February 2008 and will be available from the General Register Office for Scotland website at: http://www.gro-scotland, gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/population-estimates/index.html.
	Mid-2006 estimates for parliamentary constituencies covering Northern Ireland are available on the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency website at: http://www.nisra.gov.uk/demography/default.asp?cmsid=20_21_24&cms=demography_population%20statistics_Mid-year+population+estimates&release=
	The changes for new parliamentary constituencies effective after the next general election will result in boundary changes for the parliamentary constituencies in England and Wales only. ONS does not currently have plans to publish population estimates for the new parliamentary constituencies in England and Wales.

Equitable Life

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons publication of the report on Equitable Life has been postponed until summer 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The timetable for the completion of the parliamentary ombudsman's investigation into the prudential regulation of Equitable Life is entirely a matter for her.

Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

Katy Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue is expected to be received from vehicle licence duty in financial year  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Angela Eagle: The details of current receipts from the major tax streams including Vehicle Excise Duty is customarily published bi-annually in the Chancellor's Budget and pre-Budget reports. Table B8 in Annex B of the 2007 pre-Budget report contains the requested information:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pbr_csr/pbr_csr07_index.cfm

Gastrointestinal System: Death

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people died from upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage in the last five years in each region.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 January 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking how many people died from upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage over the last five years in each region. (178235)
	Deaths due to haemorrhage may be certified using a variety of medical terms, depending on the anatomical site and associated health condition. Some of these can be clearly identified as relating to the upper gastrointestinal tract. In other cases, death is certified as being due to a gastrointestinal haemorrhage, but without mention of the exact anatomical site within the gastrointestinal tract. Consequently, the precise number of deaths from upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage is not known.
	The table attached provides the number of deaths with an underlying cause of (a) haemorrhage where the site reported was any part of the upper gastrointestinal tract, and (b) gastrointestinal haemorrhage of unspecified site, for each government office region from 2002 to 2006 (the latest year available).
	
		
			   Table 1. Number of deaths from (a) haemorrhage of the upper gastrointestinal tract, and (b) gastrointestinal haemorrhage of unspecified site. Government Office Regions, 2002-06(  1,2) 
			   Deaths (persons) 
			 North East   North West   Yorkshire and the Humber   East Midlands   West Midlands   East of England   London   South East   South West 
			 (a) Site specified(3) 2002 107 333 178 147 236 218 254 386 246 
			  2003 133 280 198 168 241 185 248 361 230 
			  2004 105 286 194 164 212 247 284 357 224 
			  2005 100 283 187 138 217 198 241 310 207 
			  2006 108 251 178 142 253 202 213 317 187 
			
			 (b) Site unspecified(2) 2002 93 164 156 169 142 158 131 245 161 
			  2003 82 171 167 163 162 188 140 249 145 
			  2004 97 168 171 160 132 157 138 200 157 
			  2005 81 182 155 144 128 124 149 207 155 
			  2006 98 168 152 158 132 130 124 181 167 
			
			 Total(3) (a and b) 2002 200 497 334 316 378 376 385 631 407 
			  2003 215 451 365 331 403 373 388 610 375 
			  2004 202 454 365 324 344 404 422 557 381 
			  2005 181 465 342 282 345 322 390 517 362 
			  2006 206 419 330 300 385 332 337 498 354 
			 (1) Based on boundaries as of 2008. (2) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. (3) Deaths from upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage, site specified as the upper gastrointestinal tract, were defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes I85.0, K22.6, K25.0, K25.2, K25.4, K25.6, K26.0, K26.2, K26.4, K26.6, K27.0, K27.2, K27.4, K27.6, K28.0, K28.2, K28.4, K28.6, K29.0, and K92.0, where any one of these codes was recorded as the underlying cause of death. (4) Deaths from gastrointestinal haemorrhage, site unspecified, were defined using the ICD-10 code K92.2, where this was recorded as the underlying cause of death. (5) The total figure is an over-estimate of the number of deaths from upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage, since it includes deaths where the site was unspecified.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what records  (a) the Valuation Office Agency and  (b) his Department keep of the number and location of zero carbon homes.

Jane Kennedy: The stamp duty land tax relief for new zero carbon homes can be claimed using the stamp duty land tax return, which contains a specific code for this tax relief. HM Revenue and Customs is therefore able to monitor the number of claims and the amount of relief given. HM Treasury has access to these data in an aggregated form. The Valuation Office Agency does not collate information in respect of zero carbon homes.

Joint Child Poverty Unit

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his responsibilities are in relation to the Joint Child Poverty Unit; and what arrangements are in place for liaison with other Departments on the work of the Unit.

Jane Kennedy: The Child Poverty Unit brings together the expertise of officials from both DWP and DCSF. HMT works closely with the Unit and officials are in regular contact. The Child Poverty Unit is a member of the PSA Board chaired by HMT.
	The Child Poverty Unit will report to a child poverty board comprised of senior officials from across Whitehall. At ministerial level, this board will report to DA(FCY). The Unit is also currently setting up working groups with officials across a number of Government Departments and Local Government Offices.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Financial Secretary will provide a substantive reply to the letter of 31 October 2007, from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire (acknowledgement 10 October, reference 1/50946/07).

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 18 December 2007
	I have replied to the hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire's letter of 29 November 2007, about paying VAT on flood defences, PO ref: 1/53090/2007.

Jane Kennedy: I replied to the hon. Member on 5 January.

Migration

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many estimates of long-term population growth attributable to migration have been made by the Government since 1997; what those estimates have been, including the most recent longest term estimate of population growth attributable to migration and total future population size; what assessment he has made of the environmental and housing implications of these estimates; and what the Government's population policy is.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 January 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question regarding how many estimates of long-term population growth attributable to migration have been made by the Government since 1997; what those estimates have been, including the most recent longest term estimate of population growth attributable to migration and total future population size; what assessment he has made of the environmental and housing implications of these estimates; and what the Government's population policy is. (177459)
	National population projections, based on a full review of all the underlying assumptions, are normally produced every two years. The most recent set is the 2006-based national projections published in October 2007. In the intervening year between these 'full' projections, special sets of 'interim' national projections may be produced. Two sets of interim projections (2001-based and 2003-based) have been produced in recent years.
	The underlying assumptions for the projections are demographic trend based and should not be seen as predictions. If, as in recent years, there is an increase in migration levels then the assumptions are changed to reflect this. The long-term assumptions of annual net migration to the United Kingdom in these recent national population projections have been as follows:
	
		
			   Based projections  
			 1998 +95,000 
			 2000 +135,000 
			 2001 +100,000 
			 2002 +130,000 
			 2003 +130,000 
			 2004 +145,000 
			 2006 +190,000 
		
	
	Since the 2002-based projections, an analysis has been published of the impact of the assumed level of net migration on population growth in the period to 2031. These analyses are available from the following links:
	2002-based projections
	http://www.gad.gov.uk/Demography_Data/Population/2002/methodology/mignote.asp
	Interim 2003-based projections
	http://www.gad.gov.uk/Demography_Data/Population/2003/methodology/mignote.asp
	2004-based projections
	http://www.gad.gov.uk/Demography_Data/Population/2004/methodology/mignote.asp
	2006-based projections
	http://www.gad.gov.uk/Demography_Data/Population/2006/methodology/mignote.asp
	The Office for National Statistics cannot comment on the policy issues raised in your question.

Money: Northern Ireland

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what recent estimate he has made of the amount of currency issued annually by Northern Irish banks;
	(2)  which Northern Irish banks have the right to issue bank notes;
	(3)  what funding reserves are required to back up the issue of currency by Northern Irish banks.

Angela Eagle: As at 24 November 2007 the total value of banknotes in circulation issued by banks in Northern Ireland was reported to be £1,607 million. The Treasury holds no estimate of the amounts issued annually by banks in Northern Ireland.
	Commercial banks in Northern Ireland that currently issue their own banknotes are:
	The Bank of Ireland
	First Trust Bank
	The Northern Bank Ltd
	Ulster Bank Ltd
	Under the legislation regulating banknotes issued in Northern Ireland, the Bankers (Ireland) Act 1845 and Bankers (Northern Ireland) Act 1928, those commercial banks permitted to issue banknotes are required to ensure that, at the close of business on each Saturday over specified four week periods, the average value of note-covering assets that they hold is not less than the average value of their banknotes that are in circulation (above a small fiduciary level) at the close of business on each Saturday during the same four week periods.

Non-domestic Rates: Microgeneration

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated yearly cost to the public purse is of the proposal in the pre-Budget report 2007 that microgeneration equipment in business premises will only trigger an increased liability for business rates when a property is revalued during the five-yearly revaluation process.

Jane Kennedy: The cost for not including microgeneration investments in ad hoc reassessments of business rates liability will be published at the Budget.

Office of Government Commerce: Departmental Records

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  on what dates early versions of gateway reviews relating to  (a) identity cards,  (b) the NHS IT programme and  (c) other projects were shredded by the Office of Government Commerce;
	(2)  whether the decision to shred early versions of gateway reviews relating to identity cards and the NHS IT programme was taken by Ministers;
	(3)  whether all versions prior to the final version of the gateway reviews relating to  (a) identity cards and  (b) the NHS IT programme were shredded by the Office of Government Commerce; and on what dates.

Angela Eagle: Working copies of Gateway reports are destroyed prior to the production of the final Gateway report to the SRO (senior responsible owner) of the project being reviewed. This 'version control' is to ensure that there is no confusion created between notes made during work in progress and the final Gateway report. Two copies of the final Gateway report are held, one by the SRO and another by the OGC, electronically, and kept on file permanently. This procedure is standard practice across all Gateway reviews. Ministers have approved the Gateway process.
	Since the working copies of the Gateway reports are destroyed before the production of the final report on the last day of a review, documents will have been destroyed before the last day of the following reviews for the Identity Card Programme and the NHS:
	 National Programme for IT in the NHS (ID0217)
	Gate 0, 24 June 2002 - 28 June 2002
	Gate Oa, 25 October 2004 - 29 October 2004
	 Identity Cards Programme (ID0412)
	Gate 0, 23 June 2003 - 25 June 2003
	Gate Oa, 26 January 2004 - 29 January 2004
	Gate l, 12 July 2005 - 15 July 2005
	Gate Ob, 9 October 2006 - 13 January 2006

Pregnancy: Young People

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the conception rate is for women aged 19 years and under; how many women aged 19 and under had  (a) a live birth,  (b) an abortion and  (c) miscarried in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of all live births were to teenage mothers in the last two years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 January 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the conception rate is for women aged 19 years and under; how many women aged 19 and under had (a) a live birth, (b) an abortion and (c) miscarried in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of all live births were to teenage mothers in the last two years. (177195)
	The overall number and rate of conceptions for women aged 19 years and under in England and Wales in 2005 (the most recent year for which figures are available) are shown in the attached table. It is not possible to provide figures on conceptions leading to a live birth only as conception statistics are estimated using maternities (i.e. a pregnancy resulting in one or more live or still births) and notifications of legal abortions. Figures on conceptions leading to a maternity and conceptions leading to an abortion for women aged 19 and under in England and Wales in 2005 (the most recent year for which figures are available) are also shown in the attached table.
	Figures for women who miscarried are not collected centrally.
	The number and percentage of live births to mothers aged 19 and under for England and Wales in 2005-2006 (the most recent years for which figures are available) are also shown in the attached table.
	
		
			   Conceptions to women aged 19 years and under, England and Wales, 2005 
			All conceptions   Conceptions leading to a maternity   Conceptions leading to an abortion 
			Number   Rate(  1)   Number   Rate(  1)   Number   Rate(  1) 
			 2005 102,312 60 61,111 36 41,201 24 
			 (1) Conceptions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19. 
		
	
	
		
			   Live births by age of mother, England and Wales, 2005-06 
			All ages   19 years and under 
			Number   Number   Percentage 
			 2005 645,835 44,830 7 
			 2006 669,601 45,509 7

Pregnancy: Young People

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the conception rate is for girls aged 15 years and under; how many women aged 15 and under had  (a) a live birth,  (b) an abortion and  (c) miscarried in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of all live births were to mothers aged 15 and under in the last two years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 January 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the conception rate is for women aged 15 years and under; how many women aged 15 and under had (a) a live birth, (b) an abortion and (c) miscarried in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of all live births were to mothers aged 15 and under in the last two years. (177196)
	The overall number and rate of conceptions for women aged 15 years and under in England and Wales in 2005 (the most recent year for which figures are available) are shown in the attached table. It is not possible to provide figures on conceptions leading to a live birth only as conception statistics are estimated using maternities (i.e. a pregnancy resulting in one or more live or still births) and notifications of legal abortions. Figures on conceptions leading to a maternity and conceptions leading to an abortion for women aged 15 and under in England and Wales in 2005 (the most recent year for which figures are available) are also shown in the attached table.
	Figures for women who miscarried are not collected centrally.
	The number and percentage of live births to mothers aged 15 and under for England and Wales in 2005-2006 (the most recent years for which figures are available) are also shown in the attached table.
	
		
			   Conceptions to women aged 15 years and under, England and Wales, 2005 
			All conceptions   Conceptions leading to a maternity   Conceptions leading to an abortion 
			Number   Rate(  1)   Number   Rate(  1)   Number   Rate(  1) 
			 2005 7,930 8 3,404 3 4,526 4 
			 (1) Conceptions per 1,000 women aged 13 to 15. 
		
	
	
		
			   Live births by age of mother, England and Wales, 2005-06 
			All ages   15 years and under 
			Number   Number   Percentage 
			 2005 645,835 1,189 0.2 
			 2006 669,601 1,233 0.2

Proof of Concept Pilot Scheme

Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what results have been reported from the proof of concept pilot scheme between HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions and 12 local authorities; and when he plans to publish those results.

James Plaskitt: I have been asked to reply.
	The findings from the joint working proof of concept between Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions and 12 local authorities were fed into Sir David Varney's report, "Service Transformation a Better Service for Citizens and Businesses: A Better Deal for the Taxpayer", published in December 2006. This report recommended the establishment of a service that enables a citizen to report a change in circumstance only once starting with birth and bereavement, followed by change of address. The Department for Work and Pensions is taking forward this recommendation on behalf of Government as a whole and will present its business case to Her Majesty's Treasury for a decision on whether or not to begin implementation from April 2009.

Registration of Births Deaths Marriages and Civil Partnerships: Internet

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the introduction of Registration On-line by the General Register Office.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Registrar General, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 January 2008:
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking, what assessment has been made of the introduction of Registration On-line by the General Register Office. (177092)
	The introduction of the RON system has encountered some delays. However, all local authorities in England and Wales are using it for registering civil partnerships, and 102 out of 172 are using it for birth, death and stillbirth registrations. Local authorities who are not yet able to use it for births, deaths and stillbirths are able to provide a fully adequate registration service using alternative software.

Registration of Births Deaths Marriages and Civil Partnerships: Internet

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he expects the General Register Office to introduce Registration On-line for marriages.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Registrar General, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 January 2008:
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking on what date it is expected the General Register Office will introduce Registration On-line for marriages. (177093)
	The Registration On-line marriages module has been tested and is ready for use in a live environment. However, by agreement with the local registration service, it will not be introduced until the births, deaths and stillbirths module has been adopted in all local authority areas and shown to be working satisfactorily. No firm date has yet been set.

Reparation by Offenders

David Kidney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward measures to grant powers to the police to require an offender to pay compensation to a victim without the need to put the offender before a court.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (as amended by the Police and Justice Act 2006) already enables the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to offer a caution with conditions attached to an offender where there is sufficient evidence to charge him or her with an offence which is admitted.
	Conditions are currently aimed at rehabilitation (addressing the offender's behaviour) and/or reparation (making good the harm the offender has caused including the payment of compensation to a victim) and may include restorative justice processes.
	The offender must agree to that caution and the conditions attached. It is for the CPS to decide whether a conditional caution is suitable and to identify appropriate conditions. If the conditions are not complied with, the offender can be prosecuted for the original offence.
	The Government have no plans to grant the police powers to require offenders to make reparation by way of compensation.

Revenue and Customs: Cardiff

Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion and how many of the staff at HM Revenue and Customs office in Ty-Glas Llanishen, Cardiff were employed  (a) on permanent contracts,  (b) on temporary contracts and  (c) via an employment agency in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The headcount data for HMRC staff on  (a) permanent HMRC contracts and  (b) non-permanent HMRC contracts, in Ty-Glas Llanishen, Cardiff for each of the last three years and at October 2007 are as follows:
	
		
			Permanent   Non-permanent   Total 
			 1 April 2005 2,458 142 2,600 
			 1 April 2006 2,451 201 2,652 
			 1 April 2007 2,613 225 2,838 
			 1 October 2007 2,567 159 2,726 
		
	
	Data for agency staff are not available.

Revenue and Customs: Correspondence

Simon Burns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects HM Revenue and Customs to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford of 12 July on his constituent Mrs C. Irvine (Ref: 2007/07/002840).

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs replied to the hon. Member on 30 November 2007.

Revenue and Customs: Tyne and Wear

Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion and how many of the staff at HM Revenue and Customs office in Washington, Tyne and Wear were employed  (a) on permanent contracts,  (b) on temporary contracts and  (c) via an employment agency in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The headcount data for HMRC staff on  (a) permanent HMRC contracts and  (b) non-permanent HMRC contracts, in Washington, Tyne and Wear for each of the last three years and at October 2007 are as follows:
	
		
			Permanent   Non-permanent   Total 
			 1 April 2005 2,832 292 3,124 
			 1 April 2006 2,619 349 2,968 
			 1 April 2007 2,539 272 2,811 
			 1 October 2007 2,498 230 2,728 
		
	
	Data for agency staff are not available.

Stamp Duties

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many homes, according to HM Revenue and Customs stamp duty land tax return records, have claimed the zero rate of stamp duty on zero carbon homes.

Jane Kennedy: The stamp duty land tax relief for new zero carbon homes has been claimed for three transactions. A stamp duty land tax certificate was issued for these transactions between 1 October 2007, the date from which the relief can be claimed, and the end of November 2007.
	HMRC expect the numbers of qualifying transactions to rise as more properties eligible to claim the relief go on the market. The Government are committed to conducting an interim review of the relief in 2010 which will examine the effectiveness of the relief in stimulating the innovation necessary to ensure that by 2016 all new homes are zero-carbon.

Strokes: Finance

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Barnett consequentials have been for Wales of improved funding for stroke services in England in 2007-08.

Andy Burnham: Funding for the Welsh Assembly Government in 2007-08 was announced as part of the 2004 spending review. The Welsh Assembly Government received Barnett consequentials on the increases in spending for the Department of Health but the Welsh funding is on a block basis rather than disaggregated by specific spending streams such as funding for stroke services.

Tax Havens: British Nationality

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of income foregone by the Exchequer as a result of people of British origin entering tax exile.

Jane Kennedy: No such estimate is available.

Taxation: Bingo

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons both value added tax and gross profit tax are applied to the bingo industry; and if he will introduce a single tax regime for the industry.

Angela Eagle: The Government consider all relevant factors when establishing and maintaining fair regimes for the gambling taxes and keep all taxes under review.

Taxation: Northern Ireland

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the introduction of the discrete capital values system of domestic taxation in Northern Ireland on house prices.

Jane Kennedy: The local domestic taxation system in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.

Valuation Office: Official Hospitality

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rules are for staff members of  (a) the Valuation Office Agency and  (b) HM Revenue and Customs on recording details of entertainment and hospitality received.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is as follows.
	 V O A
	 (a) The rules for staff members of the Valuation Office Agency on recording details of entertainment and hospitality received are set out in Staff Handbook, Section 9.6 which states as follows:
	 Recording of benefits offered
	"You must inform your Group Management, or your line manager for non-Group staff, in writing of any offers of gifts, inducements or hospitality (including invitations to working lunches and dinners) which you accept or, with the agreement of your Group Management, or your line manager for non-Group staff, record them directly in the office hospitality record maintained for that purpose.
	You should also report or record any significant (worth 25 or more) or repeated offers which you have declined. If you are in doubt whether an offer you have turned down should be reported, you should seek the advice of your Group Management, or your line manager for non-Group staff."
	 HMRC
	 (b) The staff of HMRC are expected to maintain the highest standards of propriety at all times. To avoid any suggestion of impropriety they must not accept benefits of any kind from a third party including customers, suppliers and contractors other than isolated gifts of a trivial nature such as a calendar or diary, or conventional hospitality. HMRC has detailed guidance on gifts and hospitality, an extract of the guidance follows:
	 HMRC—Recording of benefits offered
	"If you have been given permission to accept an offer of a gift or hospitality, for example, invitations to working lunches and dinners, you must record the details in the gifts and hospitality register held in your location. This includes the acceptance of a gift that is trivial in nature, for example, calendars or diaries. Minor refreshments such as tea, coffee and biscuits need not be recorded.
	You must also report and record any significant single offer or inducement (worth £25 or more) or repeated offers of inducement that you have declined. If you are in doubt about reporting an offer you have declined, you must ask your manager's manager for advice or contact HR Service Centre."

Welfare Tax Credits: Borders Region

Michael Moore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk were in receipt of  (a) child tax credit and  (b) working tax credit on (i) 30 April 2006, (ii) 31 December 2006, (iii) 30 April 2007 and (iv) 31 December 2007.

Jane Kennedy: The information is not available for the dates requested. Estimates of the number of recipient families with tax credits, by each parliamentary constituency, at 3 April 2006, 2 December 2006, 3 April 2007 and 4 December 2007, are available in the HMRC snapshot publication "Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Geographical Analyses" for each relevant date. This is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm
	We do not produce statistics separately for child tax credit and working tax credit.

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many requests to pay back overpaid tax credits (forms TC610) were issued by HM Revenue and Customs and its predecessor organisation in each month since April 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) started issuing TC610 notices to pay in October 2004. The number of requests to pay back overpaid tax credits (forms TC610) issued by HMRC in each month from October 2004 to October 2006 inclusive was:
	
		
			Thousand 
			   Month   Forms TC610 issued 
			   2004-05  
			 October 2004 9 
			 November 2004 10 
			 December 2004 184 
			 January 2005 325 
			 February 2005 284 
			 March 2005 201 
			   
			   2005-06  
			 April 2005 43 
			 May 2005 56 
			 June 2005 98 
			 July 2005 85 
			 August 2005 99 
			 September 2005 110 
			 October 2005 175 
			 November 2005 260 
			 December 2005 239 
			 January 2006 312 
			 February 2006 91 
			 March 2006 81 
			   
			   2006-07  
			 April 2006 96 
			 May 2006 88 
			 June 2006 82 
			 July 2006 136 
			 August 2006 125 
			 September 2006 210 
			 October 2006 495 
		
	
	For the period November 2006 to October 2007 inclusive I refer to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) on 4 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1206W.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Admiralty House

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for how many months the official ministerial residences in Admiralty House previously occupied by the  (a) right hon. Member for Ashfield and  (b) right hon. Member for Derby, South have remained empty.

Gillian Merron: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1080W.

Admiralty House

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 27 November 2007,  Official Report, column 352W, on Admiralty House, what payments were made by other Departments to his Department for  (a) repairs and  (b) furnishing or refurbishing of official ministerial residences in each of the last three years; and of what value.

Gillian Merron: Occupying Departments are responsible for the relevant costs associated with the ministerial residencies in Admiralty House. Information on costs is not held centrally.

Charities

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to bring forward proposals for  (a) primary legislation,  (b) secondary legislation and  (c) guidance on allowing charities greater freedom to campaign on changes to legislation; and what plans he has to issue a consultation paper on this matter.

Gillian Merron: The Government have no plans to consult or bring forward legislation to change the law in relation to campaigning or political activities by charities. In response to calls from charities for clearer guidance, the Charity Commission has agreed to revise its guidance on campaigning and political activities, which is expected to be published early in 2008.

Chequers

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the Government's policy is on civil servants staying overnight at Chequers when the Prime Minister is not resident.

Gillian Merron: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 13 December 2007,  Official Report, column 825W.

Civil Contingencies Act 2004

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what Government funding has been made available to  (a) local authorities and  (b) fire authorities to meet obligations under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Government funding for local authorities, including fire authorities to fulfil their duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 was taken into account in the spending plans for formula grant (Revenue Support Grant and National Non Domestic Rates) announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007. The Government's proposals for funding local authority services for the three years 2008-09 to 2010-11, will see increases in total grant (formula grant, area-based grant and specific grants) of 4.0 per cent., 4.4 per cent. and 4.3 per cent. respectively.
	In London, in addition to the grant paid to London boroughs, a separate grant is made to the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) to support London authorities in discharging their duties under the Civil Contingencies Act, including provision of a secretariat for London's Local Resilience Forums and other discrete emergency planning activities.

Departmental Data Protection

Charles Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Cabinet Office's information technology and data management systems are BS7799 compliant.

Gillian Merron: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. On 17 December,  Official Report, column 98WS, the Cabinet Office published an interim progress report, which was laid before the House by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. A further report is expected in spring 2008.

Departmental Equality

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much has been spent by his Department  (a) in total and  (b) on staff costs on promoting equality and diversity in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many people are employed by his Department for this purpose.

Gillian Merron: Diversity is integrated into all of the Cabinet Office's policy and operational functions, and as such, it is not possible to isolate the total costs associated with this work.

Departmental Legal Opinion

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much has been spent by  (a) the Cabinet Office and  (b) the Prime Minister's Office on legal advice in relation to police investigations in each of the last 12 months.

Phil Hope: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office my right hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, North (Edward Miliband) to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) and the right hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb) on 10 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 755-56W.

Departmental Legal Opinion

David Burrowes: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the cost to the public purse was of external legal advice provided to  (a) civil servants and  (b) special advisers in relation to the police investigation into allegations of cash for peerages.

Phil Hope: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Edward Miliband) to the hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) and the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb) on 10 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 755-56W.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many receptions were held by the Cabinet Office between 1 and 14 October 2007; on what dates they were held; at which venues; what the purpose was of each; who  (a) hosted and  (b) paid for each; what the estimated attendance was of each; and what each cost his Office.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 19 November 2007
	The Cabinet Office held two receptions between 1 and 14 October 2007. Details of each event are as follows:
	
		
			   Date   Venue   Host   Estimated attendance 
			 9 October 2007 Admiralty House, Whitehall, London e-Delivery Team Transformational Government 52 
			 10 October 2007 Church House, Westminster, London e-Delivery Team Transformational Government 100 
		
	
	The purpose of both events was the promotion of Government Gateway, a website for individuals and organisations to access online Government services.
	Both events were funded by enGage, the managed service supplier for the Government Gateway. The service charges for the delivery of the Government Gateway, by enGage, are broken down and audited, and neither of these receptions formed part of these service charges.
	Information on official and charity receptions held at No. 10 Downing street will be published in the usual way following the end of the financial year

Departmental Parliamentary Questions

Mark Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff work in his Department's parliamentary branch; and what proportion of their time is spent on dealing with  (a) Parliamentary Questions and  (b) correspondence from hon. Members and Peers.

Gillian Merron: The Department's parliamentary branch has three members of staff who work on a range of matters connected with parliamentary business, including parliamentary questions (PQs) and legislation. It is not possible to distinguish the time the team spends on PQs from that of other parliamentary branch duties.
	The parliamentary branch does not deal with Members' or peers' correspondence.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much  (a) his Department and its agencies,  (b) the Prime Minister's office and  (c) the Leader of the House's office spent on end-of-year bonus payments in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: The Prime Minister's Office and the Leader of the House's Office are an integral part of the Cabinet Office.
	For 2003, the cost of end year bonuses paid is not held centrally and therefore only available at disproportionate cost. For details of the cost of end-of-year bonuses in 2004-06 I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 2 July 2007,  Official Report, column 901W, to the hon. Member for Upper Bann (David Simpson). The cost of end year bonuses paid in 2007 will be available only when the Department's resource accounts are fully audited and laid before Parliament. This is expected to be before the 2008 summer recess.

Departmental Property

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  what the total cost of repairs to facilities and items in Number 10 Downing Street and the Prime Minister's Offices has been since 27 June;
	(2)  how many  (a) telephones,  (b) computers and  (c) doors in (i) Number 10 Downing Street and (ii) the Prime Minister's Offices have been replaced due to malfunction or damage since 27 June;
	(3)  on how many occasions repairs have been made to  (a) telephones,  (b) computers and  (c) doors in (i) Number 10 Downing Street and (ii) the Prime Minister's Offices since 27 June.

Gillian Merron: Figures for the financial year 2007-08 will be available after the end of the financial year.
	The Government maintain the Downing street complex to standards appropriate to its grade 1/2 listed status. Repairs to buildings and equipment are carried out as and when required to ensure continuity of business.

Departmental Property

David Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much has been spent by the Prime Minister's Office on renovation and refurbishment of its property in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: The Government are legally required to maintain the Downing Street complex to standards appropriate to its Grade 1/2 listed status in consultation with English Heritage. In addition to providing office accommodation the building also fulfils an important representational role.
	No significant refurbishment works have been undertaken at the Downing street complex since the large scale rebuilding works that took place between 1960 and 1963. As a result much of the infrastructure now needs to be renewed or upgraded. It has therefore been recommended that essential improvements are undertaken through on-going annual maintenance works.
	For details of the total costs of refurbishment, maintenance and structural improvements between 2002-03 and 2004-05, I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Prime Minister gave the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Liddell-Grainger) on 16 March 2006,  Official Report, column 2393W. For details of the total costs of refurbishment and maintenance for 2005-06, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for North-West Durham, then Minister for the Cabinet Office (Hilary Armstrong), to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 12 March 2007,  Official Report, column 97W.
	For 2006-07 work commenced on replacing the failed cooling and heating systems, part of a rolling programme of refurbishment that will take several years to complete. The cost in 2006-07 was £734,631. The cost of refurbishment, maintenance and other structural improvements in 2006-07 was £648,614. This expenditure was funded out of existing budgets to maintain the fixed assets, plant and machinery, the fabric of the building, floors, walls and ceilings and the upkeep and repair of heritage assets, and to ensure a safe working environment for staff and visitors.

Departmental Redundancies

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the cost was of redundancies in his Department in the 12 months preceding  (a) 30 June 2004,  (b) 30 June 2005 and  (c) 30 June 2006.

Gillian Merron: In the 12 months preceding 30 June 2006, the redundancy cost to the Cabinet Office was £72,199 arising from voluntary departure.
	There were no redundancy costs in the 12 months preceding 2005.
	The Cabinet Office is unable to provide costs for redundancy in the 12 months preceding 30 June 2004 as the relevant figures are not separately identified.

Disclosure of Information: Public Sector

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the terms of reference are of the review into data sharing in the public sector.

Michael Wills: I have been asked to reply.
	The terms of reference for the independent data sharing review being led by Richard Thomas and Doctor Mark Walport are:
	The review will consider whether there should be any changes to the way the Data Protection Act 1998 operates in the UK and the options for implementing any such changes. It will include recommendations on the powers and sanctions available to the regulator and courts in the legislation governing data sharing and data protection. It will also make recommendations on how data sharing policy should be developed in a way that ensures proper transparency, scrutiny and accountability. To inform its recommendations, the review panel will consult with:
	(a) the devolved administrations;
	(b) the European Commission;
	(c) the academic and legal community and the media;
	(d) representatives of the IT community and the private sector;
	(e) a representative sample of Government Departments and agencies with an interest in data sharing and privacy;
	(f) other parties identified by the review team.
	The recommendations will seek to take account of technological advances and strike a balance that ensures appropriate privacy and other safeguards for individuals and society, while enabling sharing information to protect the public, increasing transparency enhancing public service delivery as well as the need to minimise the burden on business.

English Language

Damian Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available.

Gillian Merron: The Department does not centrally run English language classes. Information on whether individual management units have supported staff to attend any English language classes is not held centrally and therefore can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Labour Turnover

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants have left the  (a) Prime Minister's Office and  (b) Cabinet Office to work elsewhere (i) in and (ii) outside the civil service since 27 June 2007.

Gillian Merron: The Prime Minister's Office forms part of the Cabinet Office.
	There has been a total of 348 staff who have left the Cabinet Office since 27 June 2007. Of these:
	194 left to work for another Government Department (of which 112 members of staff transferred in the machinery of government moves of the Better Regulation Executive and Prime Minister's Delivery Unit);
	31 members of staff were loaned out to another Government Department (three of which on a machinery of government move);
	16 members of staff were seconded to an external organisation;
	95 left to work outside the civil service;
	12 people retired or were dismissed.

Ministers: Official Residences

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which Ministers of the Crown have  (a) one,  (b) two and  (c) three or more residences consequent on his or her office.

Gillian Merron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him and the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17 October 2007,  Official Report, column 1135W.

National Identity Register

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans his Department has to make use of data on the national identity register when it is established; and what the estimated cost to his Department of that use is.

Gillian Merron: The Cabinet Office will be working with the Home Office prior to the introduction of the national identity scheme to establish how identity information held on the proposed national identity register might be used to provide easier access services for our customers. It is too early in the process to establish the detailed costs and benefits.

Official Hospitality

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what Government policy is on  (a) Ministers and  (b) civil servants making bets on political events (i) with and (ii) via a commercial organisation.

Gillian Merron: Ministers and civil servants are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the requirements of the 'Ministerial Code' and the 'Civil Service Code' as appropriate.

Public Participation: Incentives

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1344W, on public participation: incentives, if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the handouts provided to participants at the forum.

Gillian Merron: The handouts provided to participants at the forum are available on the Cabinet Office website at:
	http://www.hmg.gov.uk/draftlegislativeprogramme/public_engagement/national_workshop/index.asp
	A copy has also been placed in the Library.

Public Participation: Incentives

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1344W, on public participation: incentives, what the cost to the public purse of the forum was.

Gillian Merron: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire (Mr. Vara) on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1083W, by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, North (Edward Miliband).

Regulation

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for which regulators and inspectorates his Department has had responsibility in each year since 1997; what the budget was of each such body in each year; and what the cost to the public purse was of any restructuring of each such body in each year.

Gillian Merron: Details on all Cabinet Office sponsored public bodies, including those with regulatory and inspection functions, are published annually. Information covering the period 1997-2006, including details of expenditure, is available in the "Public Bodies" publication which can be downloaded from the Civil Service website (www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/public/bodies.asp). More detailed information on expenditure appears in individual bodies' annual reports and accounts.
	Information for 2007 will be published on the site in due course.

Social Exclusion Task Force: Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the budget of the Social Exclusion Task Force was in  (a) each of the last five years and  (b) each year of the 2007 comprehensive spending review period.

Gillian Merron: The Social Exclusion Task Force was created in 2006.
	Details of its budget for 2006-07 can be found in the Cabinet Office resource accounts, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
	Details of its budget for 2007-08 will not be finalised until the spring supplementary report is published in February 2008.
	The Social Exclusion Task Force's budget for each year of the 2007 comprehensive spending review period has not yet been agreed. It will be a portion of the overall Cabinet Office budget.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Aerials: Health Hazards

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent research her Department has commissioned into the potential effect on health of mobile telephone masts.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	Research on the potential health effects from mobile phone technology is evaluated by the Health Protection Agency (HPA). The HPA's Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation, in its comprehensive scientific review of Health Effects of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields, concluded that
	"exposure levels from living near to mobile phone base stations are extremely low, and the overall evidence indicates that they are unlikely to pose a risk to health".
	Further information is available on the HPA's website at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/radiation.
	Responding to continuing concerns however, the independently managed Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR) programme, jointly funded by Government and Industry, has supported a number of studies into the possible health effects of technology relating both to masts (base stations) and hand-held mobile phones. These studies, some in progress and some already published, are described on the MTHR website at www.mthr.org.uk. None of the research published in its 2007 report so far demonstrates that biological or adverse health effects are produced by radiofrequency exposure from mobile phones or base stations.
	The HPAs Radiation Protection Division continues to keep the science under review.

Audit Commission: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the running costs were of the Audit Commission in 1996-97; and what the expected costs are in 2007-08.

John Healey: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member directly.
	 Letter from Peter Wilkinson, dated 8 January 2008:
	Your Parliamentary Question on what the running costs were of the Audit Commission in 1996-97 and what the estimated rate is for 2007-08 has been passed to me for reply in the absence of our Chief Executive, Steve Bundred.
	The running costs of the Commission, based on total operating costs, were £93.1m for 1996/97. The estimate for 2007/08 is £216.6m.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

Departmental Responsibilities

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's powers are in respect of  (a) each of its non-departmental public bodies,  (b) each of its executive agencies and  (c) the Government Offices of the Regions to (i) grant and withdraw delegated personnel responsibilities, (ii) oversee and control the exercise of delegated personnel responsibilities, including those for pay, and (iii) ensure compliance with all equality legislation.

Parmjit Dhanda: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 12 September 2007,  Official Report, columns 2124-25W.

Eco-Towns

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what  (a) criteria and  (b) process will be used to determine the geographical (i) location and (ii) distribution of eco-town sites; and what her policy is on the distribution of such towns across the English regions.
	(2)  what the timescale is for decisions on new eco-towns; and what steps she will take to integrate such decisions with local  (a) core strategies and  (b) development frameworks.

Yvette Cooper: Our approach to taking forward eco-towns is set out in the eco-towns prospectus, and as the Prime Minister has indicated we would like to see a spread of schemes across the regions. We expect to publish the proposals for eco-towns shortly, once we have completed an initial assessment of the applications received. There will be considerable opportunity for consultation on the proposals including the local authorities and the public before the process is completed.
	Once potential eco-towns have been selected their planning and development can be delivered through the operation of the spatial planning system, which may require the review of existing plans. Where necessary, the Government will commit resources to facilitate the operation of the planning process, so as to minimise delay. As set out in the eco-towns prospectus, there may be circumstances where use of the New Towns Act powers might be used.

Eco-Towns

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proposals she has received for eco-towns situated wholly or partially in Worcestershire.

Yvette Cooper: We expect to announce proposals shortly, once an individual assessment has taken place. There will be considerable opportunity for consultation before the process is completed.

Eco-Towns

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who will run the citizens' juries for the design of the new eco-towns; what procurement process has been undertaken in the selection of that individual, organisation or company; and how much has been allocated from what budget for such juries.

Yvette Cooper: On 30 October I confirmed that an ideas competition would be run to develop and set the design standards for 10 new eco-towns. As part of this there will also be an opportunity for public involvement to judge the short-listed eco-towns designs through a citizens' panel. Final details of the competition, being undertaken with CABE, the Prince's Foundation and RIBA, will be announced shortly. We expect to undertake the procurement process to select the organisation to run the citizen's jury shortly.

Eco-Towns

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what planning process will be used for construction of an eco-town that is not  (a) supported and  (b) proposed by the relevant local authority.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 17 December 200 7
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him today to questions 166916 and 166918.

Eco-Towns

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to announce the sites which she will take forward to the next stage as possible sites for eco-towns; and what processes will be adopted to ensure the full engagement of  (a) local authorities and  (b) the public before final decisions are taken.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 18 December 2007
	We are consulting with local authorities in the relevant areas covered by proposed eco-towns in January 2008 as part of an initial assessment of bids and expect to publish proposals shortly. There will be considerable opportunity for consultation and engagement involving local authorities and the public before the process is completed.
	Where a planning application for an eco-town is submitted it will be determined in the normal way under the Planning Acts. Section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory purchase Act 2004 requires that the application is determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. We will set out the full planning process as part of the announcement, and this may include reviewing the RSS or development plan. As set out in the Eco-towns Prospectus, there may be circumstances where use of the New Towns Act powers might be used.

Eco-Towns

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations she has received on the proposed eco-town at Throckmorton; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 10 January 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him today to questions 166920 and 174390.

Eco-Towns

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what plans she has to designate eco-towns as healthy towns;
	(2)  what proportion of the new eco-towns are also expected to be designated as healthy towns.

Yvette Cooper: The eco-towns prospectus, launched on 23 July alongside the Housing Green paper, sets out the vision and outline criteria for eco-towns. The aim in terms of health is to promote a healthy and sustainable environment through design and planning to deliver physical and mental benefits.

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Public Appointments

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what factors she takes into account in appointing commissioners to the Equality and Human Rights Commission; and what assessment she makes of the experience or knowledge of appointees in  (a) the field of human rights and  (b) the rights of faith communities.

Barbara Follett: I have been asked to reply.
	Commissioners are appointed on the basis of relevant experience or knowledge of discrimination and human rights and the desirability of the Commissioners together having experience and knowledge relating to the relevant matters.
	Individuals with knowledge or expertise in human rights and discrimination on grounds of religion or belief were invited to apply for the post of Commissioner. Applicants were then asked to demonstrate at application and interview an understanding of issues relevant to discrimination on grounds of religion or belief and a commitment to human rights.

Fire Services: Industrial Health and Safety

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many firemen were  (a) injured and  (b) killed whilst on duty in each of the last five years.

Parmjit Dhanda: Available information, based on financial years, is shown as follows.
	
		
			   Firefighters injured in England and Wales 
			All firefighters injured   Number of fatal injuries 
			 2001-02 6,508 1 
			 2002-03 6,591 3 
			 2003-04 6,907 1 
			 2004-05 5,793 5 
			 2005-06 4,887 0 
			   Source: Annual returns to Communities and Local Government

Flood Control: Coastal Areas

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effects of flood risk on the development of coastal towns.

Yvette Cooper: Planning Policy Statement 25 (PPS25) on development and flood risk aims to avoid and reduce flood risk as far as possible. Some coastal communities are already within areas at risk of flooding. PPS25 is designed to ensure that when proposals come forward for necessary development and regeneration in these areas, they realise opportunities to reduce flood risk to the community and they are safe, less susceptible to flood damage and will not increase flood risk elsewhere. Planning applications will be determined on their individual merits, in the light of local development frameworks, supported by strategic flood risk assessments, and the principles of PPS25.

Home Information Packs

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library the reports of  (a) the trials of home information packs (HIPs) conducted by her Department and  (b) research conducted or commissioned by her Department into HIPs.

Yvette Cooper: A copy of the area trial research report will be placed in the Library of the House once the project has been finalised. Previous research conducted or commissioned by the Department into HIPs including the analysis by Europe Economics has already been placed in the Library of the House or on the departmental website.

Home Information Packs

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether energy performance certificates can be generated without home information packs.

Yvette Cooper: Householders can choose to commission an energy performance certificate whether or not they are selling a home and need a home information pack.

Homesale Network

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which questions her official, Andrew Lock,  (a) answered and  (b) did not answer at the Homesale Network meeting on 9 November.

Yvette Cooper: The official named attended the event and responded on behalf of the Department to a wide range of issues related to home information packs. A record of every individual question asked was not kept.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria she uses to determine whether a home may be classified as an eco-home.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 19 November 2007
	The Government criteria for high environmental standards in housing is set out in the Code for Sustainable Homes which has six levels.
	The code is a set of sustainable design principles covering performance of new homes in nine key areas, including Energy and CO2 Emissions, Water, Materials, Surface Water Run-off, Waste, Pollution, Health and Well-being, Management and Ecology.
	New homes that are assessed against the code receive a one to six star rating. A one star home is built to higher sustainability standards than those set out in building regulations while a six star home is a truly sustainable—zero carbon—home. The criteria on how to achieve each star rating is set out in detail in 'Code for Sustainable Homes: Technical guide' available on the Communities and Local Government's website at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/thecode.
	The code is based on the Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) for homes 'EcoHomes', which it replaced for new homes in England from April 2007. The code is more robust than 'Ecohomes' as it sets minimum standards for Energy/CO2, Water, Materials, Surface Water Run-off and Waste.

Housing: Cleethorpes

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of levels of housing overcrowding in Cleethorpes constituency.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government do not collect data on overcrowding from local authorities. However, within the context of developing their strategic housing role, we would expect local authorities to have an understanding of levels of overcrowding within their area.

Housing: Databases

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the unique property reference number generated by the Register Operator for inclusion in an energy performance certificate is the same unique property reference number used for a property in the National Land and Property Gazetteer.

Yvette Cooper: The National Land and Property Gazetteer have their own unique reference property numbers, which are not the same as those generated by the Register.

Housing: Fire Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many firefighters have used the key worker housing scheme in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 7 January 200 8
	The following table shows the number of firefighters who have used the key worker housing scheme in each of the last three years in London, the south east and east of England.
	
		
			   Firefighters assisted through the KWL scheme 
			Number of firefighters 
			 2005 6 
			 2006 93 
			 2007 (as at end of October) 51

Housing: Green Belt

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many dwellings were built within the 1997 designated green belt in  (a) St. Albans District and  (b) Hertfordshire in each year between 1997 and 2006.

Iain Wright: The Department does not hold information in a format which would enable the number of dwellings built between 1997 and 2006 on designated, or previously designated, Green Belt in either St. Albans or Hertfordshire to be readily identified.
	The information could be obtained by the Department but this could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Housing: Low Incomes

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what her Department's internal targets were for the number of completed sales for Social Homebuy in each year since its inception;
	(2)  how much of the funding allocation to Social Homebuy for the period between 2006 and 2008 has been spent.

Yvette Cooper: Social HomeBuy is running as a voluntary pilot scheme until March 2008. The pilot scheme which was launched in April 2006 enables tenants of local authorities and housing associations to purchase a minimum 25 per cent. share in their rented home at a discount. No target has been set for Social HomeBuy pilot sales as final numbers in the pilot programme are dependent on participation of landlords and take up by tenants.
	Between April 2006 and October 2007, a total grant of £1.2 million was given to Registered Social Landlords for 111 Social HomeBuy sales in that sector.

Housing: Low Incomes

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Minister expects to publish her response to the report entitled Ends and Means, the Future of Social Housing by Professor J. Hills; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The written ministerial statement made on 12 December 2007,  Official Report, column 35WS, set out an initial response to the challenges raised by the Hills review of social housing. A copy of the accompanying speech will be placed in the Library of the House. Further work is under way.

Housing: Low Incomes

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes have been built in national parks in each of the last five years; and how many planning applications to build affordable homes in national parks have been refused in each of those years.

Iain Wright: Information on the number of affordable homes built in national parks, or the number of planning applications to build affordable homes in national parks is not held centrally.

Housing: Low Incomes

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes have been built in each local authority area in England in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: I have placed information on the numbers of affordable homes provided for each local authority area in the Library. These numbers include social rent, intermediate rent, and low cost home ownership, and cover new build and acquisitions.

Housing: Radon Gas

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what estimate her Department has made of the number of homes in England and Wales exposed to significant levels of radon;
	(2)  what information is available to the public on radon levels in homes.

Iain Wright: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) currently estimates that 100,000 homes in England and Wales exceed the current radon Action Level of 200 Bq m(3) (becquerel per cubic metre of air). Radon gas formation is directly related to the underlying geology and the majority of the affected homes occur in the south-west of England but there are significant numbers in other areas of England and Wales.
	The Radiation Protection Division of the HPA maintains a radon information function that includes a dedicated website, www.ukradon.org. as well as a 24 hour-freephone number to obtain a radon information pack, 0800 614529. The Building Research Establishment also maintains a radon section on their website:
	www.bre.co.uk/radon

Local Authorities: Elections

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government why her Department's list of councils which have elections in 2008, published by her Department on 10 October lists Bristol as having elections.

John Healey: The Department's list of councils holding elections in 2008, to be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/360902/electoralarrangements/elections/localgovernmentelections/
	has been corrected to reflect that Bristol, anomalously for district councils electing by thirds, does not have elections in 2008. Bristol's cycle of elections, established by The City of Bristol (Electoral Changes) Order 1998 No. 2699, provides for elections in 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011.

Local Government Finance

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government by what criteria the Working Neighbourhood Fund has been allocated to local authorities; what relative weighting each criterion is given; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: Three criteria were used in determining eligibility for the Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF):
	Any authority that has 20 per cent. or more of its lower super output areas (LSOAs) in the most deprived decile on the employment domain;
	Any authority that has 20 per cent. or more of its lower super output areas (LSOAs) in the most deprived decile on the overall Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD); and
	Any authority among the top 40 districts on an equally weighted measure of key benefit claim rate and employment rate.
	Eligible authorities were required to meet one of the above criteria to qualify for the fund. No weighting was applied to the criteria.
	All eligible authorities were allocated a standard amount per head of working age population living in the 10 per cent. most deprived LSOAs on the employment domain.
	Authorities that did not qualify for WNF but currently receive a Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) allocation have been awarded transitional payments over 2008-10. Payments of 60 per cent. of the 2007-08 NRF allocation will be paid in 2008-09 and 40 per cent. of the 2008-09 allocation will be paid in 2009-10.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 13 November 2007 on the planning system.

Iain Wright: I replied to the hon. Member on 11 January.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire's letter to the Minister of State, dated 22 November 2007, on the proposed number of new homes planned for building over the next few years.

Iain Wright: I replied to the hon. Member on 6 January.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire's letter of 29 November 2007, addressed to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and transferred to the Department for Communities and Local Government on 12 December (DEFRA reference: 58563/MG).

Parmjit Dhanda: I replied to the hon. Member on 7 January 2008.

Parish Councils: Public Participation

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will bring forward proposals to discourage parish council referenda being held on issues of national interest.

John Healey: Parish polls may be held on any question arising at a parish meeting, which is a forum for the discussion of parish affairs. We are looking at whether these polls are being used appropriately.

Planning: Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what her Department's definition is of local energy generation in relation to planning policy;
	(2)  what assessment her Department has made of the effect on the take-up of  (a) photovoltaics,  (b) solar hot water and  (c) micro wind technologies of the decision to include offsite and local generation in the definition of the Merton planning rule.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 10 December 2007
	On 17 December 2007, the Government published a new planning policy statement (PPS) on climate change. The PPS sets out for planning authorities the circumstances where renewable and low carbon technologies, including micro-renewables, should be used to supply new development in their area.
	The PPS includes a definition of decentralised energy supply, which makes it clear that this means energy supply from local renewable and low carbon sources (i.e. on-site and near site, but not remote off site) usually on a small scale.

Planning: Renewable Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government under what circumstances the proposed off-site rule under the new Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change for the provision of locally stipulated contributions from renewable energy would apply to new developments.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 19 November 2007
	 : On 17 December 2007, the Government published a new planning policy statement (PPS) on climate change. The PPS sets out for planning authorities the circumstances where renewable and low carbon technologies, including micro-renewables, should be used to supply new development in their area.
	The PPS includes a definition of decentralised energy supply, which makes it clear that this means energy supply from local renewable and low carbon sources (i.e. on-site and near site, but not remote off site) usually on a small scale.

Property: Databases

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the unique property reference number generated by the Register Operator for inclusion in an energy performance certificate is the same unique property reference number used for a property in the National Land and Property Gazetteer.

Yvette Cooper: The National Land and Property Gazetteer have their own unique reference property numbers, which are not the same as those generated by the Register.

Recycling: Greater London

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on the Waste and Recycling Board in London; and what involvement the Mayor of London will have with the Board.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
	The role of the London Waste and Recycling Board is set out in the Greater London Authority Act 2007. Broadly speaking, it will help deliver an increase in the environmental sustainability of waste management in London. To this end, it will manage the London Waste and Recycling Fund and may provide advice to such persons as it sees fit. It will also have to act in accordance with the Mayor's municipal waste management strategy.
	The details of the constitution and administration of the Board are currently being considered and an Order setting this out will be laid in the House as soon as possible. It is disappointing that the Mayor has announced his intention not to sit on the Board or contribute to the Fund. However, the Government will continue to seek ways of working together to ensure that the efforts of the Board and the Mayor to improve waste infrastructure in London are mutually reinforcing.

Thames Gateway: Internet

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Thames Gateway news web page was last updated; and what alterations have been made to this web page since 12 July.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 20 November 2007
	The Communities and Local Government Thames Gateway website at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/thamesgateway
	has been regularly updated since 12 July 2007. Additionally, following the Prime Minister's speech and the launch of the delivery plan at the Thames Gateway forum on 28 November 2007, the Thames Gateway executive made significant updates to the site to reflect this announcement.
	In addition, Communities and Local Government contributes to the site
	www.thamesgateway.gov.uk
	which is managed by Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership web developers (Pixelwork) on behalf of all Thames Gateway strategic partners. That site was re-launched at the Thames Gateway forum and will now complement the new Thames Gateway marketing and communications strategy.

Travelling People: Caravan Sites

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on the provision of sites for Travellers and Gypsies in Hertfordshire.

Iain Wright: The Government recognise the need to address the on-going shortfall in permanent and transit sites for Gypsies and Travellers. All local authorities are now required to assess the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers in their area. The results of these assessments will inform regional spatial strategies, which will set out the number of pitches to be provided in each local planning authority area.
	The July 2007 caravan count found a total of 442 caravans in Hertfordshire, 305 of which are on local authority or registered social landlord sites. A further 120 are located on private sites.
	The East of England regional assembly are preparing an alteration to the regional spatial strategy for the East of England, which we understand is due to be approved by the assembly on 25 January 2008. This alteration will determine how many pitches will be required for Gypsies and Travellers in the region. The current draft suggests the need for 1,187 pitches by 2011, 176 of which are in Hertfordshire. These figures will be tested at the examination in public under an independent panel before being finalised by the Secretary of State.

Valuation Office: Press Releases

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many press releases the Valuation Office Agency issued in 2006-07.

Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
	Between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2007, the Valuation Office Agency issued eight press releases.

Written Questions

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she will reply to question 165127, on the Thames Gateway web page tabled by the hon. Member for Thurrock on 13 November 2007.

Yvette Cooper: I have now replied to my hon. Friend's question.

Written Questions

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she will provide a substantive answer to Question 174390, on eco-towns, tabled by the hon. Member for Mid Worcestershire on 11 December 2007 for named day answer on 18 December 2007.

Yvette Cooper: I have now replied to the hon. Member's question.

JUSTICE

Aviation

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many air miles were travelled by Ministers in his Department in each year since its establishment; and what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced as a result;
	(2)  how many miles he and other Ministers in his Department travelled on short haul flights in the last 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced as a result of these flights.

Maria Eagle: Since 1999 the Government have published a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over £500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007. Details for the current financial year will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. From next year, the list will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the "Ministerial Code".
	All central Government ministerial and official air travel has been offset from 1 April 2006. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to a central fund. The fund purchases certified emissions reductions credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.
	A list of Government Carbon Offsetting Fund members, their emission figures and what activities they have offset through the fund is available online at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/carbonoffset/government.htm

Chorley Magistrates Court

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what effect staff training on a new computer system is likely to have on the availability of courts at Chorley magistrates court.

Maria Eagle: South-West Lancashire magistrates courts will be migrating to a new IT system (called Libra) on 9 May 2008. This migration is part of a national roll-out programme to bring a new, improved and consistent IT package to all magistrates courts in the country. An integral element of the implementation will be the training of staff to operate the new system efficiently. To reduce the impact of staff absences, and keep disruption to court users to a minimum, staff training will take place on site at Chorley magistrates court.
	To facilitate this, one courtroom at Chorley magistrates court will be closed for six weeks. The work that would ordinarily be accommodated in this court will be allocated to neighbouring courthouses, namely Leyland and Ormskirk (primarily to Leyland). This arrangement will be monitored to ensure it is operating effectively, and to minimise any impact on court services.
	Timely roll-out of Libra is particularly important for the Lancashire magistrates courts, as their existing IT systems are coming to the end of their working life, and are becoming increasingly unreliable. Were the existing IT to fail, it is unlikely that the position could be recovered, and court data would be corrupted and/or lost.

Coroners: Diana Princess of Wales

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the total likely costs of the inquests into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales; how such costs will be met; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The costs of the inquests into Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed up to 30 November 2007 were posted on the inquests website
	www.scottbaker-inquests.gov.uk.
	Costs up until 2006-07 were met by the relevant funding authorities. Costs since then have been met by central Government. Further estimated costs will be published in the spring parliamentary supply estimates in February.

Courts: Drugs

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will publish the independent evaluation of the pilots of dedicated drug courts at Leeds and West London; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The independent evaluation of the pilots at Leeds and West London is currently being completed. It is intended that, once quality assurance processes are satisfactorily completed, the report will be published.

Courts: Interpreters

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many Lithuanian interpreters were used by the courts in the Greater London area in the last year for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: From April 2007 to date, no Lithuanian interpreters have been booked for civil and family cases in the Greater London area. Information on interpreters used in criminal proceedings is not centrally collected and could be provided only at disproportionate cost through the manual searching of individual court files. The routine collection of data relating to interpreters and translation services at court is being considered by Her Majesty's Courts Service as part of wider work on interpreting and translation in the criminal justice system, being led by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform.

Courts: Interpreters

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many foreign language interpreters were used in the courts in the Greater London area in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: From April 2007 to date, the number of foreign language interpreters used in civil and family cases in the Greater London area is 171. Information on interpreters used in criminal proceedings is not centrally collected and could be provided only at disproportionate cost through the manual searching of individual court files. The routine collection of data relating to interpreters and translation services at court is being considered by Her Majesty's Courts Service as part of wider work on interpreting and translation in the criminal justice system, being led by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform.

Courts: Northern Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what difficulties have been experienced on access to courts in Northern Ireland in the last year; and what improvement works are scheduled for each of the courts used by the Court Service in Northern Ireland during 2008.

David Hanson: Relatively few access issues were recorded during the past 12 months. The following table summarises those of which the Northern Ireland Court Service is aware.
	
		
			   Venue   Date   Issue   Remedy 
			 Royal Courts of Justice 20 September 2007 A member of the public experienced difficulty using the passenger elevator. Alterations and possible replacement of the lift will be actioned before the end of this financial year. 
			 Newry 10 December 2007 A defendant with restricted mobility was unable to gain access to the courtroom as the lift was out of order. The court session was delayed while the necessary repairs were completed. 
			 Coleraine 28 February 2007 A court user with restricted mobility encountered difficulty accessing a courtroom. The court video suite was utilised to allow the witness to give evidence. 
			 Enniskillen 26 June 2007 A witness who was a wheel chair user could not access the witness box. Arrangements were made for this witness to give evidence from an adjacent area. 
			 Limavady 19 December 2007 The Northern Ireland Prison Service, following a risk assessment and consultation with the Court Service, decided not to produce a prisoner at Limavady courthouse. A protocol for the production of prisoners assessed as high risk has been agreed. 
		
	
	A programme of maintenance work is being developed for the forthcoming year. In addition a further audit will be commissioned early in the 2008-09 financial year which will focus on the scope for improving access to courtrooms and juror areas.

Crown Courts

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  in what percentage of criminal cases in the Crown courts in England and Wales there was a change of plea to guilty at the start of the trial in the last 12 months for which figures are available;
	(2)  what percentage of prosecutions in magistrates courts in England and Wales resulted in dismissal following the Crown offering no evidence at the start of the trial in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: During the 12 month period ending in November 2007 there was a late change of plea to guilty at the start of the trial in 25.9 per cent. of all cases listed for trial (9,662 of 37,266) in the Crown courts in England and Wales. This figure includes all trials where a late guilty plea was entered in respect of the original charge, but not those where the prosecution accepted a guilty plea in respect of an alternative charge.
	During the same period, 5.5 per cent. of all trials (10,399 out of 189,138) recorded in the magistrates courts in England and Wales did not proceed owing to the prosecution ending the case because of insufficient evidence.

Departmental Consultants

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many outside consultants were employed by his Department to provide  (a) advice and  (b) design services for the (i) NOMIS programme, (ii) C-NOMIS, (iii) LIDS, (iv) Data Share, (v) OASys and (vi) CRAMS; and what the cost of each contract was to his Department.

David Hanson: The NOMIS programme consists of:
	(a) A version of C-NOMIS to be provided to HM Prison Service.
	(b) 'Data Share' which will provide a new mechanism for the sharing of information between Prisons and Probation Areas.
	(c) A redeveloped OASys system to provide a single offender risk assessment system across Prisons and Probation Areas.
	(d) National Probation Service Case Management Systems, with Delius (a system already in use in some Probation Areas) being implemented in others where systems are in urgent need of replacement. Options to address a range of issues associated with CRAMS (the case management system currently in use in most probation areas) are also being considered.
	This response considers these, but does not cover legacy systems such as LIDS, existing OASys systems and the existing CRAMS, which are all outside the NOMIS Programme. Advisory and design expenditure around such legacy systems is understandably limited.
	The NOMIS programme has so far this financial year employed five firms for providing advice and 15 firms for providing design services. The numbers cover firms directly employed and exclude those engaged through a subcontracting route.
	The NOMIS programme is about the development and associated implementation of new systems and so most of the expenditure can be considered as relating to design activity, especially as a full implementation has not yet been commenced for any of its elements. The total amount expensed by the programme with firms providing just advisory services in the nine months to the end of December 2007 is estimated at £0.6 million.
	The cost of each contract is commercially confidential and therefore this information is not provided.
	Until recently the focus of the NOMIS Programme has principally been on C-NOMIS and so nearly all the expenditure, and hence numbers of firms employed, are attributable to it. One firm providing limited design services to the redeveloped OASys is not though engaged on the C-NOMIS project. The other parts of the NOMIS Programme have also involved discussions with various potential parties but have not involved the employment of additional advisors or designers.

Departmental Labour Turnover

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the percentage turnover of staff was in  (a) his Department and  (b) his Department's agencies in (i) the last 12-month period and (ii) the last 24-month period for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The percentage turnover rate for (i) the last 12 months and (ii) the last 24 months of staff for the Ministry of Justice headquarters and its agencies is detailed in the following tables.
	
		
			   (a) Percentage staff turnover rate for Ministry of Justice headquarter  s 
			   Percentage 
			(i) Covering 12-month annualised period   (ii) Covering 24-month annualised period 
			 Ministry of Justice (excluding agencies) 9.01 8.07 
			 Office for Criminal Justice Reform (1)— (1)— 
			 National Offender Management Service (1)— (1)— 
			 (1) The figures for the National Offender Management Service and Office for Criminal Justice Reform are included in the response to this question from the Home Office. 
		
	
	
		
			   (b) Percentage staff turnover rate for Ministry of Justice agencies 
			   Percentage 
			(i) Covering 12-month period annualised   (ii) Covering 24-month period annualised 
			 Her Majesty's Prisons Service 8.20 8.40 
			 Her Majesty's Courts Service 9.00 9.02 
			 Office of the Public Guardian 9.82 9.49 
			 Tribunals Service 8.74 9.64 
			 Scotland Office and offices of Advocate General 11.76 6.67 
			 Wales Office 14.55 19.81 
			 Land Registry 3.57 3.44 
			 National Archives 13.85 14.93

Departmental Manpower

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of his Department's staff are employed within each salary band; what the title and role of each position within each salary band is; and for each salary band what the  (a) bonus structure,  (b) retirement provision,  (c) expenses provision,  (d) total expenses incurred in each of the last 10 years,  (e) average age of employee,  (f) number of (i) women and (ii) men and  (g) ethnic composition is.

Maria Eagle: Table A has been collated to show grade bands and job roles; each of the grade bands/job roles command different levels of remuneration dependent on responsibility levels, economic factors and department/agency within the Ministry of Justice.
	The narrative provides a response to  (a) bonus structure  (b) retirement provision  (c) expense provision  (d) total expenses incurred.
	Table B sets out the percentage of staff employed within each of the salary bands together with information in respect of  (e) average age of employee  (f) number of (i) women and (ii) men and  (g) ethnic composition
	The Ministry of Justice salary bands are based on responsibility level as detailed in the following table. The precise roles performed by staff within each band is not recorded centrally.
	
		
			   Table A 
			   Former DCA (incl. HMCS, Tribunals Service, PGO, HQ and associated offices)   Former DCA (inc HMCS, Tribunals Service, PGO, HQ and associated offices)   Home Office   Prison Service 
			   New Bands   Examples   Examples   Examples 
			 SCS Pay band 1/1A Deputy Director   
			 SCS Pay band 2 Director   
			 SCS Pay band 3 Director-General   
			 
			   Band A Senior Manager Grade 6/7 Medical Officer 
			  Lawyer  Pharmacist 
			  Regional HR Business Partner  Senior Manager A 
			  Regional Manager Estates  Senior Manager B 
			  Probate Registrar  Senior Manager C 
			  Regional Manager Performance  Senior Manager D 
			  Senior Policy Worker  Senior Medical Officer 
			Medical Officer PT 
			 
			   Band B Senior Manager SEO Chaplain 1 and 2 
			  Area HR Business Partner  Manager E 
			  Court Manager  Manager F 
			  Policy Officer  Nursing Grades 
			  Finance Manager  Pharmacist 
			 
			   Band C Section Leader HEO HEO 
			  Court Manager  Manager G 
			  Caseworker  Medical Technical Officer Grade 8 
			  Budget Manager  Nursing Grades 
			  Project Officer  Pharmacist 
			 
			   Band D Court Manager EO Assistant Chaplain 
			  1st Line Manager  Catering Manager 
			  Judges Clerk  EO/TUPE Transfer/IG1 
			  Project Officer  Farm and Gardens Grades 
			  Bailiff Manager  Industrial 
			  Personal Assistant  Instructional Officer 
			Medical Technical Officer Grade 5 
			Nursing Grades 
			Pharmacist/ Pharmacy Technician 
			Principal Officer 
			Prof and Tech Officer 
			Scientific Officer 
			Senior Personal Secretary 
			Stores Officer C, D 
			Trainee Psychologist 
			Typing Manager / Senior Officer 
			 
			   Band E Team Worker 2/Admin Officer AO AO 
			  Bailiff  Catering Manager 
			  Senior Usher  Industrial 
			Medical Technical Officer Grade 4 
			Nursing Grades 
			Personal Secretary 
			Pharmacist 
			Prison Officer / IDS 
			Psychologist Assistant 
			Senior Officer 
			Senior Officer IDS 
			Support Grade Band 1 
			Technical Grade 1 IG 2,3 
			 
			   Band F Usher AA AA 
			  Cleaner  Assistant Storeperson 
			  Admin Support  Industrial 
			  Messenger  Medical Technical Officer 
			  Telephonist  Night Patrol 
			  Paperkeeper  Nursing Grades 
			  Security  OSG/IG4,5 
			  Typist  Typist / Support Grade Band 2 
		
	
	 (a) Bonus structure. SCS bonuses are allocated by the Departmental Pay Committee in accordance with guidelines issued by Cabinet Office each year following the Senior Salaries Review Body recommendations. Within the former Department for Constitutional Affairs, the Office for Criminal Justice Reform and the National Offender Management Service Performance Bonus is paid to staff who achieve the top performance marking over the appraisal year. The level of bonus payments vary by grade and business unit. There is no defined bonus structure for staff other than senior civil servants in the Prison Service. In addition, the Ministry of Justice' staff have access to a range of in-year bonuses awarded locally under various Recognition and reward schemes. These awards include small gifts or vouchers, small bonuses of up to £100 and special bonuses of £100 or more. Special bonuses provide recognition for outstanding achievements by staff for working on demanding tasks or situations.
	 (b) Retirement provision. The normal retirement age for staff is 65 although Justices' Clerks have a normal retirement age of 70. The minimum retirement age, irrespective of grade, is 60. Staff who wish to remain employed beyond the normal retirement age may do so provided they meet the normal standards of health, efficiency, conduct, performance and attendance. Requests to work beyond age 70 are allowed only in exceptional circumstances.
	 (c) Expenses provision. There are numerous types of expenses paid. In the main these are based on standard allowances or reimbursement of expenses within defined guidelines.
	 (d) It is not possible to provide the total expenses incurred for each grade for each of the last 10 years. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	 (e) Figures on the average age of employee,  (f) number of (i) women and (ii) men and  (g) ethnic composition are reflected in the following tables. The bands are based on responsibility level as illustrated in Table A. The precise roles performed by staff within each band is not recorded centrally.
	The following tables reflect the figures within the Ministry of Justice Headquarters and Agencies as at reference date 30 September 2007.
	
		
			   Table   B 
			   Ministry o  f   Justice Headquarters 
			   Salary band   Full time equivalent of all staff   Salary bands as % of all staff   Average age of all staff   Headcount gender all staff   Headcount of permanent on strength ethnicity 
			   M   F   White   BME   Undeclared   Not k  nown   Total 
			 SCS 85.94 3.70 48.59 49 39 57 (1)— (1)— 13 70 
			 Grade 6, 7 465.93 20.20 42.96 231 246 287 24 22 91 424 
			 SEO 371.15 16.10 43.24 183 200 237 40 28 45 350 
			 HEO 522.32 22.70 40.92 231 310 295 94 46 68 503 
			 Fast Streamer 36 1 .60 27.47 19 17 12 (1)— (1)— 10 22 
			 EO 418.52 18.20 38.95 176 257 160 117 55 62 394 
			 AO 365.55 15.90 38.09 11 270 137 93 22 71 323 
			 AA 34.87 1.50 40.73 17 19 15 6 (1)— 6 27 
			 Unknown Band 3 0.10 49.23 0 3 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 0 
			 Grand Totals 2,303.28 100.00 41.13 1,022 1,361 1,200 374 173 366 2113 
		
	
	
		
			   Her Majesty's   P  risons Service 
			   Salary band   Full time equivalent of all staff   Salary bands as % of all staff   Average age of all staff   Headcount gender all staff   Headcount of permanent on strength ethnicity 
			   M   F   White   BME   Undeclared   Not known   Total 
			 SCS 43 0.10 49.4 35 8 35 (1)— (1)—  35 
			 Grade 6, 7 625 1.30 49.4 400 225 550 (1)— (1)— (1)— 550 
			 SEO 2,731 5.60 45.1 1,663 1,068 2429 182 120 (1)— 2,731 
			 HEO 735 1.50 43.6 391 344 631 59 45 (1)— 735 
			 Fast Streamer 0 0.00 0 0 0 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 EO 4,683 9.60 43.8 2,644 2,039 4222 287 174 (1)— 4,683 
			 AO 3,0891 63.20 42.1 2,1314 9,577 27565 1,673 1,654 (1)— 30,892 
			 AA 9,197 18.80 44.2 5,473 3,724 8182 612 403 (1)— 9,197 
			 Grand Totals 48,905 100.00 45 31,920 16,985 43,614 2,813 2,396 (1)— 48,823 
		
	
	
		
			   Her   Majesty's Courts Service 
			   Salary band   Full time equivalent of all staff   Salary bands as % of all staff   Headcount gender all staff   Headcount of permanent on strength ethnicity   Headcount of permanent on strength ethnicity 
			   M   F   White   BME   Undeclared   Not k  nown   Total 
			 SCS 64.98 0.30 49.87 49 18 52 1— 1— 8 60 
			 Grade 6, 7 832.91 4.20 47.34 459 392 591 35 97 96 819 
			 SEO 1,859.8 9.30 43.82 704 1,307 1,365 191 202 219 1,977 
			 HEO 1,181.13 5.90 44.61 386 828 884 92 142 64 1,182 
			 Fast Streamer 7 0.00 26.46 4 3 1— 1— 1— 1— 1— 
			 EO 3,614.56 18.00 42.77 1,038 2,811 2,687 300 460 277 3,724 
			 AO 8,834.43 44.10 40.11 2,406 7,330 5,979 900 1,087 1,248 9,214 
			 AA 3,335.72 16.70 51.02 1,556 2,616 2,524 151 614 651 3,940 
			 Unknown Band 302.45 1.50 3,554 99 235 81 11 11 69 172 
			 Grand Totals 200,32.98 100.00 42 6,711 15,540 14,163 1,680 2,613 2,632 21,088 
		
	
	
		
			   Office   Of The Public Guardian 
			   Salary band   Full time equivalent of all staff   Salary bands as % of all staff   Average age of all staff   Headcount gender all staff   Headcount of permanent on strength ethnicity 
			   M   F   White   BME   Undeclared   Not known   Total 
			 SCS 2 60 55.26 1 1 (1—) (1—) (1—) (1—) (1—) 
			 Grade 6, 7 12 3.70 46.92 6 6 8 (1—) (1—) (1—) 8 
			 SEO 26.83 8.20 46.98 15 12 15 (1—) (1—) (1—) 15 
			 HEO 40.23 12.30 42.86 19 23 21 8 9 (1—) 38 
			 Fast Streamer 1 0.30 29.11 0 1 (1—) (1—) (1—) (1—) 0 
			 EO 117.64 36.10 40.09 51 73 29 55 21 15 120 
			 AO 111.4 34.20 37.16 64 53 20 39 9 39 107 
			 AA 15.12 4.60 42.96 8 8 7 (1—) (1—) (1—) 7 
			 Grand Totals 326.22 100.00 42.6 164 177 100 102 39 54 295 
		
	
	
		
			   Tribunals Service 
			   Salary band   Full time equivalent of all staff   Salary bands as % of all staff   Headcount gender all staff   Headcount of permanent on strength ethnicity   Headcount of permanent on strength ethnicity 
			   M   F   White   BME   Undeclared   Not k  nown   Total 
			 SCS 11 0.40 52.52 7 4 (1—) (1—) (1—) (1—) (1—) 
			 Grade 6, 7 63.35 2.20 48.62 35 32 39 (1—) 6 17 62 
			 SEO 57.46 2.00 46.66 28 30 42 5 (1—) 8 55 
			 HEO 163.72 5.60 43.13 53 115 98 19 20 23 160 
			 Fast Streamer 4 0.10 28.74 1 3 (1—) (1—) (1—) (1—) 0 
			 EO 466.49 16.10 40. 1 164 330 256 91 37 83 467 
			 AO 1,847.23 63.60 39.92 712 1,324 919 365 165 382 1,831 
			 AA 291.27 10.00 42.42 143 183 162 44 20 54 280 
			 Unknown Band 0.5 0.00 40.04 0 1 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 0 
			 Grand Totals 2,904.52 100.00 42.8 1,143 2,021 1,516 524 248 567 2,855 
		
	
	
		
			   Scotland Office and Offices of Advocate-General 
			   Salary band   Full time equivalent of all staff   Salary bands as % of all staff   Headcount gender all staff   Headcount of permanent on strength ethnicity   Headcount of permanent on strength ethnicity 
			   M   F   White   BME   Undeclared   Not k  nown   Total 
			 SCS 6 16.70 50.88 5 1 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Grade 6, 7 8 22.20 39.36 4 4 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 SEO 2 5.60 38. 87 1 1 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 HEO 4 11.05 32.01 3 1 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Fast Streamer 2 5.60 26.21 1 1 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 EO 1 2.80 28.3 0 1 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 AO 8 22.20 44.95 4 4 (1)— (1)— (1)— 6 6 
			 AA 4 11.05 53 3 1 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Unknown Band 1 2.80 34.89 0 1 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Grand Totals 35 100.00 39.2 21 14 (1)— (1)— (1)— 6 6 
		
	
	
		
			   Wales Office 
			   Salary band   Full time equivalent of all staff   Salary bands as % of all staff   Average age of all staff   Headcount gender all staff   Headcount of permanent on strength ethnicity 
			   M   F   White   BME   Undeclared   Not known   Total 
			 SCS 4 7.20 42.93 4 0 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Grade 6, 7 9 16.20 44.55 6 3 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 SEO 8 14.50 38.42 1 7 6 (1)— (1)— (1)— 6 
			 HEO 10 18.10 37.14 5 5 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Fast Streamer 0 0.0 0 0 0 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 EO 14.67 26.60 36.18 7 8 6 (1)— (1)— (1)— 6 
			 AO 7.72 13.90 45.51 3 6 6 (1)— (1)— (1)— 6 
			 AA 2 3.60 6.27 1 1 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Grand Totals 55.39 100.00 44.3 27 30 18 (1)— (1)— (1)— 18 
		
	
	
		
			   Office for Criminal Justice Reform 
			   Salary band   Full time equivalent of all staff   Salary bands as % of all staff   Headcount gender all staff   Headcount of permanent on strength ethnicity   Headcount of permanent on strength ethnicity 
			   M   F   White   BME   Undeclared   Not k  nown   Total 
			 SCS 14 4.20 47 11 3 (1)— (1)— 10 (1)— 10 
			 Grade 6, 7 25 7.30 47 18 7 12 (1)— 13 (1)— 25 
			 SEO 66.82 19.60 41 34 33 29 (1)— 37 (1)— 66 
			 HEO 47.77 14.00 40 34 21 18 (1)— 31 (1)— 49 
			 Fast Streamer 49.59 14.6 38 36 27 14 (1)— 47 (1)— 61 
			 EO 57.39 16.9 41 35 27 9 13 40 (1)— 62 
			 AO 9.23 2.70 41 3 10 (1)— (1)— 7 (1)— 7 
			 AA 0 0.00 0 0 0 (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Unknown Band 70.47 20.70 30 21 23 (1)— (1)— 44 (1)— 44 
			 Grand Totals 340.27 100.00 40.6 192 151 82 13 229 (1)— 324 
		
	
	
		
			   National Offender Management Service 
			   Salary band   Full time equivalent of all staff   Salary bands as % of all staff   Headcount gender all staff   Headcount of permanent on strength ethnicity   Headcount of permanent on strength ethnicity 
			   M   F   White   BME   Undeclared   Not k  nown   Total 
			 SCS 54.88 3.40 51 31 25 23 (1)— 33 (1)— 56 
			 Grade 6, 7 101.28 6.30 48 81 46 31 (1)— 95 (1)— 126 
			 SEO 262.28 16.40 42 144 121 82 7 176 (1)— 265 
			 HEO 191.85 12.00 41 161 108 69 15 185 (1)— 269 
			 Fast Streamer 147.82 9.30 40 76 102 55 26 98 (1)— 179 
			 EO 254.63 15.90 40 113 162 58 53 164 (1)— 275 
			 AO 219.94 13.70 40 80 177 27 26 203 (1)— 256 
			 AA 25.28 1.60 43 13 19 (1)— (1)— 26 (1)— 26 
			 Unknown Band 343.2 21.4 48 89 19 6 (1)— 141 (1)— 147 
			 Grand Totals 1,601.16 100.00 43.7 788 779 351 127 1,211 (1)— 1,99 
			 (1) Denotes a number below five. Code of practice does not allow figures to be published that would identify individuals.Note:  Unknown Bands:- Former DCA HQ and HMCS - The unknown grades represent those staff whose option letters are yet to be finalised. NOMS and OCJR—secondees from the Police/Prison Service.

Departmental Pay

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 480-81W, on departmental pay, how many of those earning over £100,000 were employed  (a) as special advisers and  (b) in a political role in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the number of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007,  Official Report, 147-51WS.
	Information on the numbers and costs of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and this information will be available in the Library of the House.

Driving Offences: Convictions

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward proposals to enable motorists held responsible for the deaths of cyclists to be charged with the offence of manslaughter.

Maria Eagle: The offence of manslaughter (and culpable homicide in Scotland) is already available for bad driving offences that result in death, and would apply to the death of a cyclist in the same way as it would to other victims of road traffic incidents.
	It is for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to decide on the appropriate charge in a particular case and their guidance makes it clear that a manslaughter charge might be appropriate where the driving was so bad, or the risk of death so great, that a prosecution for manslaughter must be brought.

Driving Offences: Hampshire

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) cautions and  (b) prosecutions for mobile telephone use by (i) motorists and (ii) other road users there have been in each district and unitary council area in Hampshire in each of the last eight quarters for which records are available.

Maria Eagle: Available information from 2004 to 2005 (latest available) is provided in the following table. 2006 data will be available later this year.
	Data are available at police force area level and by calendar year only.
	
		
			   Written warnings(  1)  , fixed penalty notices issued(  2)   and court proceedings(  3)   at the magistrates courts for the offence of use of hand held mobile phone while driving(  4)   within Hampshire police force area, 2004-05 
			Number of offences 
			   2004  
			 Written warnings 0 
			 Fixed penalty notices issued 2,032 
			 Total court proceedings 18 
			 Written warnings 0 
			   2005  
			 Fixed penalty notices issued 4,078 
			 Total court proceedings 40 
			 (1) Includes formal cautions. (2) Covers tickets paid where there is no further action. (3) Includes cases where a fixed penalty notice was originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court. (4) Offences under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 110 (1), 110 (2) and 110 (3).   Notes: 1. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete.  2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Drugs: Sentencing

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance the Government gives to courts on sentencing in first time class C drug possession cases.

Maria Eagle: Sentencing for possession of a class C drug is covered by the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which set a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment. Within that statutory maximum, it is open to the courts to use their discretion when sentencing in individual cases, subject to any extant guidelines from the Sentencing Guidelines Council (SGC). The Sentencing Guidelines Council—an independent statutory body—is responsible for issuing sentencing guidelines which criminal courts must take into account. Its draft magistrates courts sentencing guidelines, which are currently out for consultation, contain proposed guidelines for possession of a class C drug. The draft guidelines can be viewed at:
	www.sentencingguidelines.gov.uk/docs/SGC%20Final.pdf
	The definitive guidelines will be finalised and published later this year.

Environment Protection: Fixed Penalties

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2007,  Official Report, column 676W, on environment protection: fixed penalties, what the aggregate revenue was from the fines in each year since 1999-2000.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The aggregate revenue from the fixed penalty notices is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Reporting Period   Aggregate Revenue (£) 
			 April 2006 to March 2007 1,997,879 
			 April 2005 to March 2006 1,100,669 
			 April 2004 to March 2005 369,368 
		
	
	Data are not held centrally on revenue prior to April 2004.
	Pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2007,  Official Report, column 676W, new data have been published on the number of fixed penalty notices issued by local authorities. From April 2006 to March 2007, 54,015 fixed penalty notices were issued, of which 33,255 were paid.
	These data are also available on the Defra website.

Environment Protection: Fixed Penalties

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2007,  Official Report, column 676W, on environment protection: fixed penalties, which legislation the fines in 2005-06 were issued under.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The fixed penalty notices, to which the answer of 29 November 2007 refer, were issued under the following legislation:
	section 88 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for litter offences;
	section 4 of the Dogs (Fouling of Land Act) 1996 and section 59 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act for dogs-related offences;
	section 43 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 for graffiti and fly-posting; and
	section 8 of the Noise Act 1996 for noise.
	A breakdown of the statistics collected by the Department on local authorities' use of fixed penalty notices is available on the Defra website.

HM Court Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the anticipated change in budget to 2010-11 is for HM Courts Service.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice recently agreed its CSR settlement with HM Treasury and as part of the CSR settlement, we are taking forward an ambitious value for money programme to enable the delivery of cash releasing savings of 3 per cent. per annum. We are in the process of working out the implications of this settlement to HM Courts Service and other business areas within the Ministry.
	HM Courts Services 2008-09 allocations will be decided shortly.

Human Trafficking: Compensation

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many women who had been trafficked into the UK have been awarded compensation under Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority guidelines; what the value was of such awards; from which countries those women were trafficked; whether he has made an estimate of any likely future payments; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme pays compensation to blameless victims of violent crime within Great Britain. Compensation is based on the criminal injury sustained not on the criminal act which caused the injury. Victims of trafficking do not therefore receive compensation under the scheme for the fact of being trafficked, but only if they were victims of a violent crime in Great Britain. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) does not record centrally how many award recipients were also victims of trafficking, since that information is not necessary for the purpose of determining claims. CICA are accordingly unable to supply the information requested.

Interpreters

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance is issued to court services on the provision of  (a) sign language interpreters and  (b) lip speakers for hearing-impaired people in the criminal justice system.

Maria Eagle: In January 2007 the Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR), in conjunction with Criminal Justice Agencies, published a revised National Agreement on Arrangements for the Use of Interpreters, Translators and Language Service Professionals in Investigations and Proceedings within the Criminal Justice System to help ensure that only suitably qualified interpreters and translators are used in criminal proceedings. Sign language and lip speakers fall in the category of interpreters known in the profession as LSPs (Language Service Professionals). In addition, a Good Practice Guide for HMCS staff on the use of interpreters in the criminal courts has been produced to supplement the new National Agreement. I have placed a copy of the National Agreement and the Good Practice Guide for HMCS staff in the Libraries of the House.

National Offender Management Information System

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much money from  (a) his own Department and  (b) other public sources has been spent on the NOMIS programme since it was initiated (i) in total and (ii) in each relevant financial year.

David Hanson: The NOMIS programme has been fully funded by the Ministry of Justice since its formation and prior to that by the Home Office. The total expenditure to the end of December 2007 is estimated at £179 million, of which £56 million was expensed in 2005-06 (including a small proportion incurred in earlier years), £69 million in 2006-07 and £54 million in the first nine months of this financial year. The total spend to date of £155 million previously advised was up until the end of July 2007.
	Prison NOMIS will continue the roll-out of C-NOMIS, with a version that builds on the one currently running successfully in three prisons, preserving the financial and business benefit from work completed to date.

National Offender Management Information System

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much the strategic review of the NOMIS programme cost his Department between the date of its announcement in August 2007 and 7 January 2008.

David Hanson: Strategic review of the NOMIS programme was conducted using already existing project and business resource, the bulk of whom were Crown and civil servants and were available as a result of the moratorium placed on further development of the NOMIS application. Some additional expenditure was employed on a few days of consultancy time to ensure external assurance of some elements of the review.
	The NOMIS programme will be in budget for the financial year 2007-08.

Offenders: Foreigners

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many  (a) foreign nationals and  (b) non-EU foreign nationals convicted of an offence in the UK had (i) a previous conviction in the UK, (ii) a previous conviction in the UK resulting in a custodial sentence, (iii) more than one previous conviction in the UK and (iv) more than one previous conviction in the UK resulting in a custodial sentence in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many  (a) foreign nationals and  (b) non-EU foreign nationals convicted of an offence or offences in the UK resulting in a custodial sentence had (i) a previous conviction in the UK, (ii) a previous conviction in the UK resulting in a custodial sentence, (iii) more than one previous conviction in the UK and (iv) more than one previous conviction in the UK resulting in a custodial sentence in each year since 1997.

David Hanson: The requested information is not available.

Offenders: Foreigners

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many non-UK prisoners of each sex who were returned to serve their sentences in their home countries were serving custodial sentences of  (a) 12 months or more,  (b) two years or more and  (c) four years or more in the last year for which figures are available; and what these figures are as a proportion of (i) foreign prisoners and (ii) foreign prisoners returned to their home countries.

David Hanson: The final figure for the number of foreign national prisoners who were deported or removed from the UK in 2007 has not yet been finalised. However, in December it was reported that 4,000 foreign national prisoners have been removed or deported from the UK. In addition 111 foreign national prisoners were repatriated to their home countries in 2007 to continue serving their sentences there. Of these, 81 male and 25 female prisoners were serving sentences of four years or more and four male and one female prisoners were serving sentences of two years or more but less than four years. No prisoners serving sentences of less than two years were repatriated in 2007.
	As at 30 September 2007, the number of foreign national prisoners held in England and Wales was 11,211.

Peterborough Prison: Drugs

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the failure rate was for mandatory drug testing at HMP Peterborough in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

David Hanson: The latest random mandatory drug testing positive rates for HMP Peterborough are set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			2006-07   2007-08(  1) 
			   Peterborough   
			 Female 7.8 5.1 
			 Male 21.5 15.5 
			 (1) Financial year to date (April to November 2007).

Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Southend, West of 12 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 594-96W, on the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, what the penalty given to each individual found guilty of an offence under the Act was in  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005 and  (c) 2006.

Jack Straw: Data on the penalties given for offences under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 are shown for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of defendants found guilty at all courts for offences under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, including penalties given, in England and Wales, 2000 to 2006, broken down by sex(  1)  , year and police force area(  2) 
			2004   2005   2006 
			Greater Manchester   Sussex   Metropolitan Police   Leicestershire   Staffordshire   Metropolitan Police   West Midlands   Metropolitan Police 
			 Found guilty 2 1 4 1 1 6 2 6 
			 Attendance order—12 hours 1 — — — — — — — 
			 Community punishment order—100 hours — 1 — — — — — — 
			  
			   Fine 
			 £50 — — — — — — — 2 
			 £75 — — 1 — — 2 — — 
			 £80 — — — — 1 — — — 
			 £100 — — 1 — — 3 — — 
			 £120 — — — 1 — — — — 
			 £7,500 — — — — — — — 1 
			  
			 Reference to a youth offender panel — — 1 — — — 1 — 
			  
			   Conditional discharge 
			 180 days — — — — — 1 1 — 
			 360 days 1 — 1 — — — — — 
			  
			   Imprisonment 
			 270 days — — — — — — — 1 
			 300 days — — — — — — — 1 
			  
			 Supervision order—180 days — — — — — — — 1 
			 (1) All defendants found guilty were male. (2 )Please see the footnotes to the original PQ (172425) found in   Hansard on 12 December 2007,   Official Report,  column 594W. (3) There were no triable either way offences in 2005.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has for a public consultation on reform of political party funding prior to introducing legislation.

Jack Straw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) of 19 November 2007,  Official Report, column 515W.

Prison Service

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and which prison establishments met the key performance target for sustainability for the year ending March 2007; what steps he is taking to ensure that more establishments meet the target in future; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Prison Service is committed to making savings by more efficient management of energy and water. This is achieved through local and central initiatives, management information, training, awareness campaigns, and advice.
	To ensure the Prison Service is capable of delivering its obligations in respect of energy efficiency, the Energy Efficiency Project Board (EEPB) monitors implementation of an annual work programme. The EEPB reports to the Sustainable Development Working Group, provides quarterly progress reports to the Prison Service Management Board and publishes an annual report.
	Prisons calculate and report energy and water consumption monthly. The Prison Service aims to develop a comprehensive, automated reporting, monitoring and targeting system to improve management information. These initiatives will give prisons a greater incentive to achieve their targets. However, 68 establishments passed the carbon dioxide target, 58 establishments passed their water target and 31 passed both in the year ending March 2007. Individual prison performance is detailed in the following table.
	
		
			   Performance of prisons against the sustainability key performance targets 
			   Establishment   2006-07 carbon dioxide emissions KPT (tonnes/month)   Carbon dioxide performance (tonnes/month)   Pass or fail   2006-07 water use KPT (litres/prisoner/month)   Water performance (litres/prisoner/month)   Pass or fail 
			 Acklington 424 441 Fail 11640 10190 Pass 
			 Albany 215 191 Pass 6690 7115 Fail 
			 Ashwell 214 243 Fail 10767 10765 Pass 
			 Askham Grange 53 55 Fail 9253 10442 Fail 
			 Aylesbury 243 232 Pass 6058 4314 Pass 
			 Bedford 124 136 Fail 6729 4775 Pass 
			 Belmarsh 470 482 Fail 8997 8920 Pass 
			 Birmingham 442 471 Fail 7080 7041 Pass 
			 Blakenhurst 356 335 Pass 8520 8366 Pass 
			 Blantyre House 65 64 Pass 9298 7836 Pass 
			 Blundeston 227 158 Pass 7700 8165 Fail 
			 Brinsford 236 247 Fail 8424 8258 Pass 
			 Bristol 214 239 Fail 6199 6415 Fail 
			 Brixton 325 249 Pass 11640 8760 Pass 
			 Brockhill 64 43 Pass 8503 7152 Pass 
			 Buckley Hall 154 146 Pass 7700 8320 Fail 
			 Bullingdon 431 355 Pass 7666 7816 Fail 
			 Bullwood Hall 106 109 Fail 7973 6469 Pass 
			 Camphill 218 145 Pass 4064 3323 Pass 
			 Canterbury 88 61 Pass 7012 8508 Fail 
			 Cardiff 250 203 Pass 8458 8104 Pass 
			 Castington 424 441 Fail 11640 10190 Pass 
			 Channings Wood 250 268 Fail 10040 9863 Pass 
			 Chelmsford 172 196 Fail 10988 20048 Fail 
			 Coldingley 332 351 Fail 8618 14830 Fail 
			 Cookham Wood 78 77 Pass 7700 6915 Pass 
			 Dartmoor 282 316 Fail 7700 7486 Pass 
			 Deerbolt 209 170 Pass 11640 13428 Fail 
			 Dorchester 104 71 Pass 9295 8795 Pass 
			 Dover 122 122 Fail 10696 11434 Fail 
			 Downview 120 153 Fail 7880 7392 Pass 
			 Drake Hall 182 119 Pass 10959 12930 Fail 
			 Durham 274 230 Pass 6547 5979 Pass 
			 East Sutton Park 62 45 Pass 11640 15338 Fail 
			 Eastwood Park 165 122 Pass 7700 7575 Pass 
			 Edmunds Hill 110 129 Fail 11640 10574 Pass 
			 Elmley 272 331 Fail 7641 8343 Fail 
			 Erlestoke House 134 168 Fail 10705 11879 Fail 
			 Everthorpe 146 212 Fail 6559 8753 Fail 
			 Exeter 160 225 Fail 9501 5696 Pass 
			 Featherstone 260 379 Fail 11640 9737 Pass 
			 Feltham 340 520 Fail 11640 14280 Fail 
			 Ford 242 264 Fail 11640 17432 Fail 
			 Foston Hall 118 124 Fail 8320 9462 Fail 
			 Frankland 437 404 Pass 9507 8319 Pass 
			 Full Sutton 442 437 Pass 9506 10049 Fail 
			 Garth 281 514 Fail 9705 13566 Fail 
			 Gartree 210 202 Pass 8347 8697 Fail 
			 Glen Parva 300 302 Fail 8912 11275 Fail 
			 Gloucester 96 87 Pass 6639 7022 Fail 
			 Grendon/Springhill 217 197 Pass 12000 13128 Fail 
			 Guys Marsh 294 90 Pass 8985 15622 Fail 
			 Haslar 64 55 Pass 5355 7827 Fail 
			 Haverigg 241 243 Fail 8897 12089 Fail 
			 Hewell Grange 78 68 Pass 11640 16162 Fail 
			 High Down 330 345 Fail 9751 7614 Pass 
			 Highpoint 251 293 Fail 9864 10055 Fail 
			 Hindley 236 238 Fail 8500 10993 Fail 
			 Hollesley Bay 150 151 Fail 7920 13835 Fail 
			 Holloway 220 246 Fail 9506 11926 Fail 
			 Holme House 335 310 Pass 7696 7818 Fail 
			 Hull 306 283 Pass 4389 4269 Pass 
			 Huntercombe Portsmouth 140 145 Fail 4297 4164 Pass 
			 Kingston 95 96 Fail 10274 10019 Pass 
			 Kirkham 375 403 Fail 11640 20782 Fail 
			 Kirklevington Grange 77 75 Pass 7700 7559 Pass 
			 Lancaster 71 86 Fail 7889 8646 Fail 
			 Lancaster Farms 255 545 Fail 7700 8320 Fail 
			 Latchmere House 65 57 Pass 10943 13256 Fail 
			 Leeds 257 423 Fail 7056 6265 Pass 
			 Leicester 164 153 Pass 6475 7463 Fail 
			 Lewes 146 166 Fail 6964 8224 Fail 
			 Leyhill 279 251 Pass 11640 19029 Fail 
			 Lincoln 142 99 Pass 11000 11364 Fail 
			 Lindholme 340 320 Pass 11000 16037 Fail 
			 Littlehey 306 283 Pass 3318 8070 Fail 
			 Liverpool 390 388 Pass 9892 9824 Pass 
			 Long Lartin 290 270 Pass 11640 10728 Pass 
			 Low Newton 136 102 Pass 9818 9845 Fail 
			 Maidstone 257 254 Pass 11468 10777 Pass 
			 Manchester 509 485 Pass 9604 10695 Fail 
			 Moorland 319 378 Fail 8825 8998 Fail 
			 Moorland Open 122 86 Pass 9043 8005 Pass 
			 Morton Hall 150 149 Pass 9537 7970 Pass 
			 The Mount 320 367 Fail 11640 11607 Pass 
			 New Hall 169 182 Fail 9422 11829 Fail 
			 Newbold Revel 152 122 Pass 7700 7538 Pass 
			 North Sea Camp 125 116 Pass 12000 4404 Pass 
			 Northallerton 101 85 Pass 8894 9946 Fail 
			 Norwich 288 425 Fail 8924 10065 Fail 
			 Nottingham 213 196 Pass 8550 6987 Pass 
			 Onley 255 248 Pass 10475 10516 Fail 
			 Parkhurst 286 224 Pass 10470 10266 Pass 
			 Pentonville 350 173 Pass 7511 9077 Fail 
			 Portland 198 162 Pass 9203 15131 Fail 
			 Prescoed 103 89 Pass 10288 11151 Fail 
			 Preston 234 98 Pass 6048 7688 Fail 
			 Ranby 319 348 Fail 8823 7818 Pass 
			 Reading 97 108 Fail 7286 6164 Pass 
			 Risley 451 467 Fail 8002 8828 Fail 
			 Rochester 144 206 Fail 11640 11692 Fail 
			 Send 94 89 Pass 11640 13643 Fail 
			 Shepton Mallet 124 113 Pass 6706 6136 Pass 
			 Shrewsbury 97 56 Pass 7062 7422 Fail 
			 Stafford 217 168 Pass 8345 7500 Pass 
			 Standford Hill 167 196 Fail 10430 11475 Fail 
			 Stocken 300 327 Fail 8446 8729 Fail 
			 Stoke Heath 216 241 Fail 9545 8152 Pass 
			 Styal 175 198 Fail 8990 7364 Pass 
			 Sudbury 293 261 Pass 8891 7639 Pass 
			 Swaleside 313 314 Fail 6566 11827 Fail 
			 Swansea 196 105 Pass 7683 6976 Pass 
			 Swinfen Hall 160 210 Fail 9747 6417 Pass 
			 The Verne 250 248 Pass 11640 14924 Fail 
			 Thorn Cross 195 97 Pass 9090 11053 Fail 
			 Usk 91 49 Pass 6129 6003 Pass 
			 Wakefield 391 329 Pass 10871 9621 Pass 
			 Wandsworth 243 599 Fail 10463 4488 Pass 
			 Warren Hill 126 148 Fail 5310 12300 Fail 
			 Wayland 373 389 Fail 10712 10196 Pass 
			 Wealstun 384 331 Pass 9145 9401 Fail 
			 Wellingborough 186 188 Fail 5635 7085 Fail 
			 Werrington House 79 91 Fail 7700 6319 Pass 
			 Wetherby 140 124 Pass 8772 10618 Fail 
			 Whatton 148 144 Pass 8463 6675 Pass 
			 Whitemoor 306 279 Pass 8377 10185 Fail 
			 Winchester 189 211 Fail 9712 11253 Fail 
			 Woodhill 322 337 Fail 9216 10164 Fail 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 440 696 Fail 9840 11033 Fail 
			 Wymott 479 305 Pass 7700 6330 Pass

Prisoners

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which 20 nationalities had the highest number of  (a) prisoners and  (b) prisoners without leave to remain in the UK in custody in the UK in (i) 1997 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available.

David Hanson: The available information for England and Wales relates to the numbers of foreign national prisoners, not taking account of their leave to remain status, held in prison establishments in England and Wales at 30 June 1997 and 30 June 2007. This is published in "Prison Statistics England and Wales 1997", table 6.2, and "Population in Custody June 2007" monthly tables available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/population-in-custody-june07.pdf
	The following table is derived from these published tables:
	
		
			Number 
			   30 June 1997  
			 Irish Republic 734 
			 Jamaica 651 
			 Pakistan 336 
			 India 272 
			 Nigeria 243 
			 Turkey 155 
			 Netherlands 155 
			 Ghana 114 
			 Columbia 100 
			 Italy 92 
			 USA 81 
			 Algeria 73 
			 Cyprus 77 
			 Bangladesh 75 
			 Germany 78 
			 Somalia 67 
			 South Africa 64 
			 France 63 
			 China 51 
			 Portugal 46 
			   
			   30 June 2007  
			 Jamaica 1,276 
			 Nigeria 844 
			 Irish Republic 605 
			 Vietnam 391 
			 Pakistan 375 
			 Somalia 334 
			 China 331 
			 Poland 301 
			 India 279 
			 Iraq 256 
			 Turkey 210 
			 Iran 201 
			 Lithuania 182 
			 Algeria 178 
			 Portugal 178 
			 Ghana 174 
			 Zimbabwe 174 
			 Albania 163 
			 South Africa 158 
			 Bangladesh 157 
		
	
	Information relating to immigration status could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Comparable information for Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Prison Service.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: EC Nationals

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many nationals of other EU member states are in prison in England and Wales.

David Hanson: The information requested is published quarterly for England and Wales, within the regular prison population in custody statistics available from the Ministry of Justice website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publicationsy/populationincustody.htm
	At 30 September 2007 there were 2,491 foreign nationals in prison establishments in England and Wales who were non-British EU nationals. This includes those held under the Immigration Act 1971 (including those in the immigration removal centres of Dover, Haslar and Lindholme) as well as those held on remand or serving custodial sentences.
	The following table shows the information requested by nationality, as at 30 September 2007:
	
		
			Number 
			 Austria 14 
			 Belgium 40 
			 Bulgaria 33 
			 Cyprus 52 
			 Czech Republic 54 
			 Denmark 9 
			 Estonia 22 
			 Finland 3 
			 France 152 
			 Germany 131 
			 Greece 20 
			 Hungary 22 
			 Irish Republic 651 
			 Italy 95 
			 Latvia 59 
			 Lithuania 203 
			 Luxembourg 0 
			 Malta 6 
			 Netherlands 118 
			 Poland 362 
			 Portugal 192 
			 Romania 140 
			 Slovakia 20 
			 Slovenia 5 
			 Spain 72 
			 Sweden 15 
			 Total 2,491 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Females

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many women have been sent to prison for non-payment of fines for loitering and soliciting since 1983;
	(2)  how many women are in prison for non-payment of fines for loitering and soliciting;
	(3)  how many women are in prison for non-payment of fines; and how many were in prison in each year since 1983.

David Hanson: The number of female prisoners received into, and detained within, all prison establishments in England and Wales 1983-2006, excluding police cells, as fine defaulters, can be found in this table:
	
		
			Total yearly receptions   Population(  1) 
			 1983 1,321 46 
			 1984 1,486 40 
			 1985 1,385 23 
			 1986 1,075 20 
			 1987 919 28 
			 1988 936 27 
			 1989 868 24 
			 1990 845 25 
			 1991 976 12 
			 1992 1,044 23 
			 1993 1,306 24 
			 1994 1,454 23 
			 1995 1,370 26 
			 1996 461 5 
			 1997 372 3 
			 1998 326 1 
			 1999 215 5 
			 2000 149 7 
			 2001 73 2 
			 2002 79 3 
			 2003 76 3 
			 2004 138 4 
			 2005 160 1 
			 2006 148 6 
			 (1) The population figure is as at 30 June every year 
		
	
	It is not possible to show the circumstances of the original fine without disproportionate cost as the information is not held centrally and it would entail examination of every individual record. Therefore the proportion of these that were for the offences of loitering and soliciting is unknown. At the end of October 2007, the last date for which figures are available, there were eight females held in custody in England and Wales as fine defaulters.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Rehabilitation

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which prisons provide  (a) therapeutic communities,  (b) 12 step,  (c) cognitive behaviour treatment (CBT) and  (d) shorter duration CBT programmes for offenders.

Maria Eagle: The following list sets out the information requested about drug programmes.
	 Prisons which provide therapeutic communities, 12 step, cognitive behaviour treatment, and shorter duration programmes cognitive behavioural therapy programmes
	 (a) Therapeutic communities
	Channings Wood
	Drake Hall(1)
	Garth
	Holme House
	Wymott
	 (b) 12-step
	Bullingdon
	Dartmoor
	Coldingley
	Erlestoke
	Everthorpe
	Lancaster Castle
	Littlehey
	Norwich
	Send
	Swaleside
	The Mount
	Wandsworth
	 (c) Cognitive behavioural therapy programmes( 2)
	Acklington
	Altcourse
	Frankland
	Full Sutton
	Gartree
	Highpoint
	Long Lartin
	Stocken
	Wakefield
	Wealstun
	Whitemoor
	 (d) shorter duration cognitive behavioural therapy programmes( 3)
	 P-ASRO
	Ashwell
	Aylesbury
	Blundeston
	Brixton
	Camp Hill
	Cardiff
	Chelmsford
	Dartmoor
	Deerbolt
	Durham
	Edmunds Hill
	Elmley
	Everthorpe
	Featherstone
	Glen Parva
	Guys Marsh
	Haverigg
	Highpoint
	Hindley
	Kingston
	Kirkham
	Lancaster Castle
	Lewes
	Lindholme
	Liverpool
	Low Newton
	Maidstone
	Moorland
	Onley
	Parc
	Pentonville
	Portland
	Ranby
	Risley
	Rochester
	Stafford
	Swinfen Hall
	Wayland
	Wealstun
	Wellingborough
	Winchester
	Wormwood Scrubs
	 SDP
	Altcourse
	Bedford
	Belmarsh
	Birmingham
	Blakenhurst
	Bristol
	Brixton
	Bullingdon
	Castington
	Doncaster
	Dorchester
	Downview
	Eastwood Park
	Elmley
	Exeter
	Ford
	Forest Bank
	Glen Parva
	Gloucester
	Highdown
	Hollesley Bay
	Holloway
	Holme House
	Hull
	Lancaster Farms
	Leeds
	Leicester
	Leyhill
	Lincoln
	New Hall
	North Sea Camp
	Northallerton
	Nottingham
	Pentonville
	Peterborough
	Preston
	Reading
	Stoke Heath
	Styal
	Swansea
	Thorn Cross
	Wandsworth
	Winchester
	Wormwood Scrubs
	(1) Female establishment. Working towards accreditation
	(2 )Either FOCUS and/or STOP (Substance Treatment and Offending Programme)
	(3) Either SDP (Short Duration Programme) and/or P-ASRO (Prisoners—Addressing Substance Related Offending)
	In addition, a range of accredited offending behaviour programmes based on cognitive behavioural principles are provided across the prison estate.

Prisoners: Rehabilitation

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which prisons offer treatment for prisoners with  (a) alcohol and  (b) crack heroin dependency.

David Hanson: The information requested is as follows.
	 (a) The following treatment options are available for those with an alcohol problem:
	clinical services (alcohol detoxification), available in all local and remand prisons, as well as some Young Offenders Institutes (see list 1);
	Alcoholics Anonymous run groups in 67 per cent. of prisons (see list 2);
	where alcohol is part of poly-drug misuse, CARATs (Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare services) are available in all prisons with the exception of HMP Blantyre House;
	a 12-Step programme is being piloted at HMP Bullingdon on a rolling basis; and,
	the Young Persons Substance Misuse Service for 16 to 18-year-olds provides support for those with both alcohol and drug problems in 18 prisons (see list 3).
	 (b) A comprehensive drug treatment framework is in place to address the needs of those with drug misuse problems, including crack cocaine and heroin dependency, comprising:
	clinical services (detoxification and maintenance prescribing), available in all local and remand prisons (see list 1);
	CARAT services;
	CARATs take the lead Drug Intervention Programme (DIP) role in prisons, engaging with prison Resettlement teams and Criminal Justice Integrated Teams (CJITs) in the community;
	intensive drug rehabilitation programmes, run in 99 prisons (see list 4); and,
	an intervention specifically for those with crack cocaine problems is available as part of the Integrated Drug Treatment System (IDTS) (no records are currently kept of which prisons offer this service).
	 List 1 prisons offering clinical services for drug/alcohol misuse
	Altcourse
	Ashfield
	Bedford
	Belmarsh
	Birmingham
	Blakenhurst
	Brinsford
	Bristol
	Brixton
	Brockhill
	Bronzefield
	Bullingdon
	Cardiff
	Castington
	Chelmsford
	Doncaster
	Dorchester
	Durham
	Eastwood Park
	Elmley
	Exeter
	Feltham
	Forest Bank
	Foston Hall
	Glen Parva
	Gloucester
	High Down
	Holloway
	Holme House
	Hull
	Leeds
	Leicester
	Lewes
	Lincoln
	Liverpool
	Low Newton
	Manchester
	New Hall
	Norwich
	Nottingham
	Parc
	Parkhurst
	Pentonville
	Peterborough Female
	Peterborough Male
	Preston
	Reading
	Shrewsbury
	Stafford
	Stoke Heath
	Styal
	Swansea
	Wandsworth
	Wetherby
	Winchester
	Woodhill
	Wormwood Scrubs
	 List 2 prisons holding AA meetings
	Acklington
	Albany
	Askham Grange
	Bedford
	Belmarsh
	Birmingham
	Blakenhurst
	Blantyre House
	Blundeston
	Brixton
	Brockhill
	Bronzefield
	Bullingdon
	Bulwood Hall
	Camp Hill
	Canterbury
	Cardiff
	Channings Wood
	Chelmsford
	Coldingley
	Dartmoor
	Deerbolt
	Dorchester
	Dovegate
	Downview
	Drake Hall
	Durham
	Elmley
	Everthorpe
	Exeter
	Featherstone
	Feltham
	Ford
	Foston Hall
	Frankland
	Full Sutton
	Gartree
	Guys Marsh
	Haverigg
	Hewell Grange
	High Down
	Hollesley Bay
	Holloway
	Holme House
	Hull
	Kingston
	Kirkland
	Lancaster Castle
	Latchmere House
	Leeds
	Lewes
	Lincoln
	Lindholme
	Littlehey
	Long Lartin
	Low Newton
	Manchester
	Moorland (open)
	Moorland closed)
	Morton Hall
	Norwich
	Onley
	Parkhurst
	Pentonville
	Portland
	Ranby
	Reading
	Risley
	Rye Hill
	Send
	Shepton Mallett
	Shrewsbury
	Stafford
	Standford Hill
	Styal
	Sudbury
	Swaleside
	Swansea
	Swinfen Hall
	The Mount
	Thorn Cross
	Verne
	Wakefield
	Wandsworth
	Wayland
	Wealstun
	Wellingborough
	Winchester
	Wormwood
	Wymott
	 List 3 of establishments offering juvenile substance misuse services
	Ashfield
	Brinsford
	Castington
	Cookham Wood
	Downview
	Eastwood Park
	Feltham
	Foston Hall
	Hindley
	Huntercombe
	Lancaster Farms
	New Hall
	Parc
	Stoke Heath
	Thorn Cross
	Warren Hall
	Warrington
	Wetherby
	 List 4 intensive drug rehabilitation programmes
	Acklington
	Altcourse
	Ashwell
	Aylesbury
	Bedford
	Birmingham
	Blakenhurst
	Blundeston
	Bristol
	Brixton
	Bullingdon
	Camp Hill
	Castington
	Cardiff
	Channings Wood
	Chelmsford
	Coldingley
	Dartmoor
	Doncaster
	Dorchester
	Downview
	Drake Hall
	Deerbolt
	Durham
	Eastwood Park
	Edmunds Hill
	Elmley
	Erlestoke
	Everthorpe
	Exeter
	Featherstone
	Ford
	Forest Bank
	Full Sutton
	Frankland
	Gartree
	Garth
	Glen Parva
	Gloucester
	Guys Marsh
	Haverigg
	Highdown
	Highpoint
	Hindley
	Hollesley Bay
	Holme House
	Holloway
	Hull
	Kingston
	Kirkham
	Lancaster Castle
	Lancaster Farms
	Leeds
	Leicester
	Leyhill
	Lewes
	Lincoln
	Lindholme
	Littlehay
	Liverpool
	Long Lartin
	Low Newton
	Maidstone
	Manchester
	Moorland
	New Hall
	North Sea Camp
	Northallerton
	Nottingham
	Norwich
	Onley
	Parc
	Pentonville
	Portland
	Preston
	Ranby
	Reading
	Risley
	Rochester
	Send
	Stafford
	Stoke Heath
	Stocken
	Styal
	Swaleside
	Swansea
	Swinfen Hall
	The Mount
	The Verne
	Thorn Cross
	Wakefield
	Wandsworth
	Wayland
	Wealstun
	Wellingborough
	Whitemoor
	Winchester
	Wormwood Scrubs
	Wymott

Prisoners: Rehabilitation

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the failure rate for mandatory drug testing in prisons was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

David Hanson: The random mandatory drug testing positive rate for 2006-07 was 8.8 per cent.

Prisoners: Rehabilitation

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners entered  (a) detoxification,  (b) maintenance,  (c) 12 step,  (d) cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT),  (e) shorter duration CBT and  (f) therapeutic community treatment programmes in (i) 2005-06 and (ii) 2006-07; and at what cost for each type of programme for each year.

David Hanson: Figures (rounded to the nearest 10) for the number of prisoners recorded as entering the particular treatment modalities and the associated costs for the years 2005-06 and 2006-07 are given in the following tables:
	
		
			   Entrants into Drug Treatment Services 
			2005-06   2006-07 
			 Detoxification/Maintenance (Clinical Services)(1) 53,770 51,520 
			 12-Step 980 930 
			 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) 310 360 
			 Short Duration Programme (SDP)(2) 5,210 5,760 
			 P-ASRO(2, 3) 3,560 3,780 
			 Therapeutic Community Treatment Programmes 370 300 
			 (1) Figures for Detoxification and Maintenance cannot be disaggregated. (2) A shorter duration CBT. (3) Prisons—Addressing Substance Related Offending. 
		
	
	
		
			   Cost of Drug Treatment Services and Programmes 
			   £ million 
			2005-06   2006-07 
			 Detoxification/Maintenance (Clinical Services)(1, 2, 3) 11.3 23.3 
			 12-Step 2.9 3.0 
			 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) 1.7 1.6 
			 Short Duration Programme (SDP) 7.6 7.9 
			 P-ASRO 7.3 7.3 
			 Therapeutic Community Treatment Programmes 1.7 1.7 
			 (1) Funding for clinical services is now managed by the Department of Health.  (2) Figures for Detoxification and Maintenance cannot be disaggregated.  (3) Additional spending review funding.Note:  This figure includes £11.3 million transferred from NOMS to primary care trusts (as in 2005-06) and a £12 million investment by Department of Health into the Integrated Drug Treatment System (iDTS).

Prisoners: Rehabilitation

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners received treatment for  (a) alcohol and  (b) drug dependency while in custody in (i) 2005-06 and (ii) 2006-07.

David Hanson: (a) This information is not available. Alcohol treatment for those with an alcohol dependency is in the main provided within the wider drug treatment framework. The proportion of prisoners accessing treatment services for alcohol is not disaggregated.
	 (b) The total numbers of prisoners (rounded to the nearest 10) receiving treatment for drug dependency while in custody in 2005-06 and 2006-07 are indicated in the following table.
	
		
			   Treatment Intervention(  1)   2005-06   2006-07 
			 Clinical services (detoxification/maintenance) 53,770 51,520 
			 CARATs(2) initial assessments 74,720(3) 77,860(3) 
			 Intensive rehabilitation programme entrants 10,740 11,150 
			 (1) Individuals may engage in more than one type of treatment. (2) Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare. (3) CARATs figure includes juvenile substance misuse services

Prisons: Drugs

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how the  (a) quality and  (b) effectiveness of drug treatment in prisons is assessed.

David Hanson: The drug treatment framework in prisons is modelled on the evidence-based National Treatment Agency's Models of Care and a number of measures are in place to assure quality and consistency of delivery:
	the Prison Service Interventions Group conducts annual audits of drug treatment delivery at each establishment;
	intensive drug treatment programmes are accredited by the independent Correctional Services Accreditation Panel (CSAP) prior to implementation;
	voluntary sector drug treatment providers are quality assessed against detailed service specifications; and
	the Prison Service conducts periodic internal audits of each establishment, of which the drug strategy is one element.
	Research evidence shows that prison drug treatment, with effective follow-up in the community can reduce the level of re-offending by up to 10 per cent.

Reparation by Offenders

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward proposals for the police to have power to compel an offender to pay compensation to a victim without the precondition of a prosecution for a criminal offence.

Maria Eagle: The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (as amended by the Police and Justice Act 2006) already enables the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to offer a caution with conditions attached to an offender where there is sufficient evidence to charge him or her with an offence which is admitted.
	Conditions are currently aimed at rehabilitation (addressing the offender's behaviour) and/or reparation (making good the harm the offender has caused including the payment of compensation to a victim) and may include restorative justice processes.
	The offender must agree to that caution and the conditions attached. It is for the CPS to decide whether a conditional caution is suitable and to identify appropriate conditions. If the conditions are not complied with, the offender can be prosecuted for the original offence.
	The Government have no plans to provide the police with powers to compel offenders to pay compensation.

Swansea Prison

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the future role of Swansea prison.

Maria Eagle: There are no current plans to change the role of HMP Swansea.

Winchester Prison: Pest Control

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the outcome was of the risk assessment required under the EU Biocide Directive into the possibility that rats in the area may become resistant to that rodenticide after the licensed use of Brodificoum in Winchester prison in December 2006.

Maria Eagle: The Prison Service complies with the regulations set out in the Control of Pesticide Regulations (1986).
	The European Biocide Directive has been introduced to develop a common market for pest control products across all member states. The Health and Safety Executive have confirmed that under the directive there is no need to carry out a risk assessment.
	There have been no known cases of resistance to Brodificoum. These facts were confirmed by the contractor licensed to use the product. The very short term use of very limited quantities of Brodificoum solved the problem with minimal risk to non target species.
	Prolonged and extensive use of rodenticides against populations that seem to be resistant, places non targets at very high risk, in circumstances where this risk could be far better managed by using Brodificoum.
	The use of Brodificoum was risk assessed in accordance with current health and safety legislation by the contractor using this product. No consideration was given as to the potential that the rodents could become resistant to the substance as it is such a potent poison. Its use was strictly controlled over a comparatively short period.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Carbon Emissions

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what national generation carbon dioxide emissions factor is used by his Department in its calculations of emissions savings.

Malcolm Wicks: For long-term electricity savings the Government assume that new-build combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) generation is displaced. It is currently estimated that new-build CCGT plant emits 0.43 kg carbon dioxide per kWh delivered to the point of consumption. This emissions factor includes distribution losses.
	This factor was used in the 2007 Energy White Paper to calculate emissions reductions from those policies which lead to reduced electricity consumption.

Coal Fired Power Stations: Planning Permission

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what applications for new coal-fired power stations he is considering; when he expects to reach a decision on each; whether he plans to consult hon. Members before making his decisions; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department is considering one application for a coal-fired station at Kingsnorth in Medway. There are no plans to consult hon. Members on individual applications, but that is not to say that hon. Members cannot raise matters with me if they so wish.

Deregulation (Deduction from Pay of Union Subscriptions) Order 1998

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether a Regulatory Impact Assessment was produced to accompany the Deregulation (Deduction from Pay of Union Subscriptions) Order 1998.

Patrick McFadden: No. The requirement to produce Regulatory Impact Assessments was introduced after this Deregulation Order was made.

Energy: Meters

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will require suppliers of energy to install smart meters in  (a) new properties and  (b) existing properties when the meter is (i) faulty and (ii) at the end of its working life; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government are assessing responses to their recent consultation on metering and billing, and will shortly set out their next steps, including their approach to the delivery of smart meters.

English Language

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available.

Gareth Thomas: Learning and development budgets are delegated across the Department so no central record is available. Individuals and managers decide in discussion what development is appropriate and pay for it from local budgets.

Export Credit Guarantees: Fossil Fuels

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much funding for investment projects was made available by the Export Credits Guarantee Department in each of the last five years; and what proportion of this funding was allocated to fossil fuel extraction projects.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 12 December 2007
	The following table shows maximum exposure figures arising from ECGD support for the funding of civil projects in each of the last five years including those for two projects that included fossil fuel extraction.
	
		
			
			Total support   Of which fossil fuel extraction projects 
			 2002-03 643.75 million 127.6 million 
			 2003-04 1.05 billion  
			 2004-05 803.6 million 62.7 million 
			 2005-06 1.38 billion  
			 2006-07 892.9 million  
		
	
	For the sake of clarity the fossil fuel extraction projects listed exclude petrochemical and pipeline projects that did not include extraction responsibilities.

Export Credit Guarantees: Sakhalin Island

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations he has received on compliance with the environmental conditions attached to the proposed Export Credits Guarantee Department funding of the Sakhalin II project; what assessment he has made of these representations; when he expects to make a decision on the application; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 12 December 2007
	ECGD has received submissions from a number of interested parties about the environmental impacts of the Sakhalin II project. These will be taken into account in accordance with ECGD's published Case Impact Analysis Process (www.ecgd.gov.uk).
	In considering whether to provide support for the project, ECGD will apply its normal underwriting policy and its business principles. Relevant factors include the financial, technical and environmental aspects of the project.
	ECGD has not made a decision on support; a note of decision will be published in due course.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he expects the Government to make an announcement on whether it will be appealing against the European Commission's recent ruling on the state aid rules infringements by Shetland's trusts as a result of local financial assistance schemes operated by them.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have been asked to reply.
	Although I have yet to see any grounds for an appeal, I have written to my counterpart in Scotland seeking his views on the matter. Should the Government decide to lodge an appeal, I will write to the hon. Member.

Furniture: Fire Prevention

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make it his policy to seek the amending of EU legislation on fire safety of furnishings in line with UK regulations.

Gareth Thomas: There is currently no EU legislation which specifically deals with the fire safety of furniture/furnishings. The general product safety directive (GPSD) covers the safety of all products not covered by other legislation. I understand that the GPSD Committee has begun discussions on whether further work should be undertaken on the European furniture/furnishings flammability standard. The UK, at official level, is represented on this Committee.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the likely level of greenhouse gas emissions from the 10 new opencast coal mines in each year that they are expected to operate.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 9 January 2008
	 As shown by the following table, there is a general balance between surface mines opening and closing in any particular year. The net impact of new mines is therefore broadly neutral.
	
		
			Mines closed   Mines opened 
			2006   2007   2008 (f/c)   2006   2007   2008 (f/c) 
			 England 4 3 3 3 4 3 
			 Scotland 4 3 5 3 2 4 
			 Wales 1 1 2 2 1 2 
			 Total 9 7 10 8 7 9 
			   Source:  The Coal Authority 
		
	
	In 2006 coal-fired power stations used 57.3 million tonnes of coal in supplying 37.7 per cent. of UK electricity supplies. UK surface mines contributed 8.6 million tonnes of this coal (down from 10.4 million tonnes in 2005), representing 15 per cent. of total feedstock and around 5.5 per cent. of total UK electricity supply.

Land: Radioactivity

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what it would cost the Government to remediate all land which has been radioactively contaminated to date.

Malcolm Wicks: Under the various Radioactive Contaminated Land Regulations 2007, covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where civil liability for a nuclear incident is regulated by the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, the Government are liable, in certain circumstances, for the remediation of land outside a nuclear site contaminated above a certain threshold by nuclear matter. We currently know of no such radioactively contaminated land which would trigger these regulations.
	In addition, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has plans in place to decommission and clean-up the nuclear sites in its ownership. This will involve future remediation of areas of land that may be contaminated to much lower levels than the threshold of the above regulations. The NDA strategy for the decommissioning and clean up of the 20 civil public sector nuclear sites designated to the NDA is available to download from the NDA website (NDA Final Strategy 2006). Also available for download are the 2006-07 Lifetime Plan Site Summaries, which outline activities required to take the site from the present to the assumed or agreed site end state.
	The above information relates to civil nuclear sites only. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has responsibility for defence nuclear sites.

Land: Radioactivity

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the total cost to Government of the identification and remediation of radioactively contaminated land in the UK up to 2020.

Malcolm Wicks: Under the various Radioactive Contaminated Land Regulations 2007, covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where civil liability for a nuclear incident is regulated by the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, the Government are liable, in certain circumstances, for the remediation of land outside a nuclear site contaminated above a certain threshold by nuclear matter.
	We currently know of no such radioactively contaminated land which would trigger these regulations. The likelihood of an event of this nature arising in the future is sufficiently remote and its possible nature so variable, that no advance estimates or advance provisions for it can be made.
	In addition, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has plans in place to decommission and clean-up the nuclear sites in its ownership. This will involve future remediation of areas of land that may be contaminated to much lower levels than the threshold of the above regulations. The NDA strategy for the decommissioning and clean up of the 20 civil public sector nuclear sites designated to the NDA is available to download from the NDA website (NDA Final Strategy 2006). Also available for download are the 2006-07 Lifetime Plan Site Summaries, which outline activities required to take the site from the present to the assumed or agreed site end state. The majority of these programmes extend well beyond 2020.
	The above information relates to civil nuclear sites only. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has responsibility for defence nuclear sites.

Land: Radioactivity

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of the costs of remediation of land radioactively contaminated by the nuclear energy industry falls to those whose activities contaminated the land; and who is liable for any remaining remediation costs arising from radioactive contamination by the current generation of nuclear power stations.

Malcolm Wicks: Under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, nuclear site license holders are liable for the identification and remediation of radioactive contaminated land within the sites they operate. This is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive via the site license conditions.
	Under the various Radioactive Contaminated Land Regulations 2007, covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where civil liability for a nuclear incident is regulated by the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, the Government are liable, in certain circumstances, for the remediation of land outside a nuclear site contaminated above a certain threshold by nuclear matter.
	We currently know of no such radioactively contaminated land which would trigger these regulations. The likelihood of an event of this nature arising in the future is sufficiently remote and its possible nature so variable, that no advance estimates or advance provisions for it can be made.
	In addition, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has plans in place to decommission and clean-up the nuclear sites in its ownership. This will involve future remediation of areas of land that may be contaminated to much lower levels than the threshold of the above regulations. The NDA strategy for the decommissioning and clean up of the 20 civil public sector nuclear sites designated to the NDA is available to download from the NDA website (NDA Final Strategy 2006). Also available for download are the 2006-07 Lifetime Plan Site Summaries, which outline activities required to take the site from the present to the assumed or agreed site end state.

Land: Radioactivity

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the cost to his Department is of underwriting the liabilities of land contamination against radioactive pollution from the British nuclear industry.

Malcolm Wicks: Under the various Radioactive Contaminated Land Regulations 2007, covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where civil liability for a nuclear incident is regulated by the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, the Government are liable, in certain circumstances, for the remediation of land outside a nuclear site contaminated above a certain threshold by nuclear matter.
	We currently know of no such radioactively contaminated land which would trigger these regulations. The likelihood of an event of this nature arising in the future is sufficiently remote and its possible nature so variable, that no advance estimates or advance provisions for it can be made.
	In addition, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has plans in place to decommission and clean-up the nuclear sites in its ownership. This will involve future remediation of areas of land that may be contaminated to much lower levels than the threshold of the above regulations. The NDA strategy for the decommissioning and clean up of the 20 civil public sector nuclear sites designated to the NDA is available to download from the NDA website (NDA Final Strategy 2006). Also available for download are the 2006-07 Lifetime Plan Site Summaries, which outline activities required to take the site from the present to the assumed or agreed site end state.
	The information given relates to civil nuclear sites only. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has responsibility for defence nuclear sites.

Land: Radioactivity

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many acres of land are known to be sufficiently contaminated by radioactivity to warrant remediation to limit danger to workers or the general public; and what estimate he has made of the acreage likely to be so contaminated after the decommissioning of all the UK's nuclear power plants.

Malcolm Wicks: Under the various Radioactive Contaminated Land Regulations 2007, covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where civil liability for a nuclear incident is regulated by the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, the Government are liable, in certain circumstances, for the remediation of land outside a nuclear site contaminated above a certain threshold by nuclear matter.
	We currently know of no such radioactively contaminated land which would trigger these regulations. The likelihood of an event of this nature arising in the future is sufficiently remote and its possible nature so variable, that no advance estimates or advance provisions for it can be made.
	In addition, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has plans in place to decommission and clean-up sites in its ownership. This will involve further remediation of areas of land that may be contaminated to much lower levels than the threshold of the above regulations. The NDA strategy for the decommissioning and clean up of the 20 civil public sector nuclear sites designated to the NDA is available to download from the NDA website (NDA Final Strategy 2006). Also available for download are the 2006-07 Lifetime Plan Site Summaries, which outline activities required to take the site from the present to the assumed or agreed site end state.
	The proportion of land that requires remediation across the NDA estate and the level of remediation, will be fit for purpose, reflecting the risk that the land poses to humans and the environment and taking account of the proposed end use and the delicensing requirements of the Health and Safety Executive as appropriate.

Nuclear Power Stations: Coastal Areas

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what research his Department has  (a) undertaken and  (b) evaluated on the risk of inundation of existing coastal nuclear energy installations from tidal flooding.

Malcolm Wicks: A cross-nuclear industry group operating under the oversight of the Health and Safety Executive has carried out research into the methodology for the prediction of flooding from extreme sea levels. Subsequent research has evaluated the additional effects of climate change for the UK as a whole, and local to five representative coastal nuclear sites.

Nuclear Power Stations: Security

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of the costs of providing security for nuclear energy power stations, associated facilities and storage will come from the public purse in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The public does not meet any of the direct costs incurred for the provision of security at licensed civil nuclear sites. These costs, including costs for the civil nuclear constabulary, in-house security arrangements, and the Office for Civil Nuclear Security, (the security regulator) are met by the operators of such sites.

Nuclear Power Stations: Security

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the cost was of providing security for nuclear energy power stations, associated facilities and storage in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: All security costs at licensed civil nuclear sites in the UK are met by the operators of such sites. These include the costs of corporate security, in-house security arrangements and, at those sites where there is a regulatory requirement for a dedicated, on-site armed response provided by the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC), the cost of providing and maintaining this dedicated policing resource. The industry regulator for security, the Office for Civil Nuclear Security, (OCNS, part of the Nuclear Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive), also recovers the cost of its regulatory activity from the industry.
	Before March 2005, security measures at the nine nuclear generating sites did not include armed officers from the CNC. Between March 2005 and March 2007, CNC Support Units comprising authorised firearms officers were recruited, trained and deployed to the nine nuclear generating sites to augment the in-house, unarmed civilian security staff. The costs of this deployment (including start-up costs) and the charges raised since March 2007 are 30.l million. These were met by British Energy and Magnox Electric, the operators of the sites.
	There are 42 licensed nuclear sites in the UK, including the nine nuclear generating stations. OCNS recovered a total of 10.88 million from the operators of these 42 licensed nuclear sites over the last five financial years as a charge for its regulatory activity at all sites.

Political Levy

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what figures  (a) his Department and  (b) the Certification Officer holds on the average political levy charged by (i) all trades unions and (ii) each trade union in the latest period for which figures are available

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 10 January 2008
	Neither the Department nor the Certification Officer holds the particular information that is needed to provide figures on the average political levies charged.

Political Levy

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1073W, on the political levy, according to records held by  (a) his Department and  (b) the Certification Officer, which unions (i) provide a reduced subscription fee for members who opt-out of the political fund and (ii) collect the political levy as a separate charge from the main union membership subscription.

Patrick McFadden: Neither the Department nor the Certification Officer holds the information requested.

Political Levy: Northern Ireland

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what guidance  (a) his Department and  (b) the Certification Officer for Great Britain has produced on whether revenue from a trade union's political fund raised in Northern Ireland may be spent by the same trade union in another part of the UK for political purposes, where the trade union has branches in both Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 10 January 2008
	Neither the Department nor the Certification Officer has produced guidance on this specific issue.

Political Levy: Northern Ireland

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether revenue raised from trade union political levies in other parts of the UK may be spent in Northern Ireland, where a union has branches in both Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 10 January 2008
	Revenue raised from the trade union political levies in other parts of the UK may be spent in Northern Ireland, where the union has branches in both Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK.

Post Offices: Closures

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on what date he or his ministerial colleagues informed the Post Office Ltd that it could not issue recommendations in the run up to the local elections in England due to the operation of purdah.

Patrick McFadden: Following discussion with Post Office Ltd over a number of months, the company was formally advised on 5 November of the particular application to the Network Change Programme of the principles set out in the Cabinet Office guidelines relating to public consultations in the period preceding local elections.

Postal Services: Iraq

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  how many packages were sent to UK armed forces personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan over the Christmas period;
	(2)  how many packages were sent to UK armed forces personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan in each two week period in 2007.

Bob Ainsworth: I have been asked to reply.
	Packages are recorded by weight in kilograms and are not individually counted.
	Over the Christmas period (November and December 2007), BFPO dispatched a total of 284,871 kg of mail to Operation Telic (Iraq) and Operation Herrick (Afghanistan).
	The monthly total volumes (shown in kilos) of mail dispatched to Operation Telic and Operation Herrick are as follows:
	
		
			Telic   Herrick   Total 
			 January 2007 29,500 19,793 49,293 
			 February 2007 24,408 19,768 44,176 
			 March 2007 24,302 20,124 44,426 
			 April 2007 20,336 23,006 43,342 
			 May 2007 22,432 29,977 52,409 
			 June 2007 31,969 27,436 59,405 
			 July 2007 28,169 24,959 53,128 
			 August 2007 25,684 26,656 52,340 
			 September 2007 29,072 36,036 65,108 
			 October 2007 28,884 48,080 76,964 
			 November 2007 32,548 66,088 98,636 
			 December 2007 72,455 113,780 186,235

Postal Services: Iraq

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  what the cost was of sending packages during the free post period to UK armed forces personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan in  (a) 2007 and  (b) each of the last three years;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the cost of extending free post throughout the year to UK armed forces personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Royal Mail. I have therefore asked Adam Crozier, chief executive of Royal Mail to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Public Telephones

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many public telephone boxes there  (a) are and  (b) were 12 months ago.

Stephen Timms: I understand from the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), that on UK streets there are 61,796 public telephone boxes as at the end of quarter three 2007-08. 12 months ago the number at the end of quarter three 2006-07 was 62,942. These numbers exclude managed payphones at public places like airports and railway stations.

Radioactive Wastes: Land

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether those operating nuclear power plants are liable for the identification and remediation of radioactive contaminated ground within the sites they operate.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 10 October 2008
	Under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, nuclear site license holders are liable for the identification and remediation of radioactive contaminated land within the sites they operate. This is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive via the site licensed conditions.

Radioactive Wastes: Land

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the Government's total liability for remediation of radioactively contaminated land in the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 10 January 2008
	Under the various Radioactive Contaminated Land Regulations 2007, covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where civil liability for a nuclear incident is regulated by the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, the Government are liable, in certain circumstances, for the remediation of land outside a nuclear site contaminated above a certain threshold by nuclear matter.
	We currently know of no such radioactively contaminated land which would trigger these regulations. The likelihood of an event of this nature arising in the future is sufficiently remote and its possible nature so variable, that no advance estimates or advance provisions for it can be made.
	In addition, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has plans in place to decommission and clean-up the nuclear sites in its ownership. This will involve future remediation of areas of land that may be contaminated to much lower levels than the threshold of the above regulations. The NDA strategy for the decommissioning and clean up of the 20 civil public sector nuclear sites designated to the NDA is available to download from the NDA website (NDA Final Strategy 2006). Also available for download are the 2006-07 Lifetime Plan Site Summaries, which outline activities required to take the site from the present to the assumed or agreed site end state.
	The information given relates to civil nuclear sites only. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence has responsibility for defence nuclear sites.

Radioactive Wastes: Land

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the total cost of contaminated land remediation following the planned decommissioning of existing nuclear power stations.

Malcolm Wicks: Under the various Radioactive Contaminated Land Regulations 2007, covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland., where civil liability for a nuclear incident is regulated by the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, the Government are liable, in certain circumstances, for the remediation of land outside a nuclear site contaminated above a certain threshold by nuclear matter.
	We currently know of no such radioactively contaminated land which would trigger these regulations. The likelihood of an event of this nature arising in the future is sufficiently remote and its possible nature so variable, that no advance estimates or advance provisions for it can be made.
	In addition, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has plans in place to decommission and clean-up the nuclear sites in its ownership. This will involve future remediation of areas of land that may be contaminated to much lower levels than the threshold of the above regulations. The NDA strategy for the decommissioning and clean up of the 20 civil public sector nuclear sites designated to the NDA is available to download from the NDA website (NDA Final Strategy 2006). Also available for download are the 2006-07 Lifetime Plan Site Summaries, which outline activities required to take the site from the present to the assumed or agreed site end state.

Renewable Energy

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what  (a) fiscal and  (b) other incentives are available to developers of (i) large-scale and (ii) small-scale renewable energy electricity generation projects.

Malcolm Wicks: There are a number of fiscal incentives to encourage renewable generation: renewable generators are exempt from the climate change levy; microgenerators are exempt from income tax on any renewable obligation certificates (ROCs) which they sell and electricity which they export; there is a reduced rate of VAT on microgeneration technologies; and homes meeting the zero carbon criteria are exempt from stamp duty up to 500,000.
	In addition to these, the renewables obligation is the Government's key mechanism for encouraging new renewable generating capacity. The RO is a market-based mechanism, which requires electricity suppliers to source an increasing percentage of their electricity sales from eligible sources of renewable energy. Suppliers can meet their obligation by presenting renewables obligation certificates (ROCs) as evidence of renewable generation, by paying a penalty (the 'buyout' price), or a combination of the two. The price of a ROC is subject to the market and is affected by various other factors. The buyout price, which rises in line with inflation each year, caps the costs of the system to suppliers and thus ultimately electricity consumers. Generators of all sizes can claim ROCs for each megawatt of electricity they produce.
	We recognise that additional help is needed to encourage small-scale renewable generation, and have a number of beneficial measures in place to provide support. For those wishing to install microgeneration technologies, we provide grants under the low carbon buildings programme, to contribute to the costs of installation.
	We are taking steps to ensure that excess electricity generated by small operators can be sold to the grid for adequate reward; an important incentive for microgenerators. The Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act gives powers to the Secretary of State to require that energy suppliers offer a tariff to their own customers for exported electricity from microgeneration units. We are working closely with the energy suppliers to encourage voluntary action, and all major suppliers are now committed to offering some form of export tariff. Some smaller companies too, like Good Energy, offer a rate for all renewable energy generated 9p/kWhregardless of whether it is used on site or not. We will keep under review the need to exercise the power to require action.
	We are committed to ensuring that generators are aware of the benefits that are available to them, and can access them readily. Ofgem are currently examining the prices paid to green homes when they sell electricity back to the grid. In considering this they will also be looking at how easy it is for green homes to access this information and determine the value of the excess electricity that they sell. We will consider the outcomes of this work and the need for further action. In other areas, a number of steps have been taken to make it easier for smaller generators to access ROCs and we have recently published a joint BERR/Ofgem consultation on a range of initial proposals to make it easier for smaller distributed generators to interact with the wider electricity system and realise the value of the electricity that they generate.

Renewable Energy

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what policy decisions have been taken on renewable energy as a result of recommendations made by the Renewables Advisory Board since November 2002.

Malcolm Wicks: The Renewables Advisory Board (RAB) was set up in 2002 in order to provide independent advice to Government on renewable electricity.
	Governmental policy decisions are not based purely on the advice of the RAB, though they do contribute to consultations relating to renewable energy and have produced a number of reports advising Government on renewables policy. I would refer you to the RAB website for further details: http://www.renewables-advisory-board.org.uk/index.htm.
	As I announced on 10 December 2007, the remit for RAB has also been expanded with specific reference to the delivery of the EU 2020 target of 20 per cent. renewable energy in the UK.

Renewables Obligation: Carbon Emissions

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of  (a) the total quantity of emissions of carbon dioxide which have been avoided as a result of the renewables obligation to date and  (b) the expected quantity of such emissions in each year between 2008 and 2020.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is as follows:
	 (a) Electricity generated from renewable sources, on a renewable obligation basis are given in chapter 7.5 of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2007. Assuming that renewable electricity displaces gas generation, with a carbon factor of 95.7 MtC per GWh additional generation, estimated carbon saved is given in the following table.
	Finalised figures for 2007 are not currently available.
	
		
			2002   2003   2004   2005   2006 
			 Total renewables generation on an obligation basis (GWh) 5,755 7,156 9,906 13,138 14,554 
			 Estimated carbon saved (MtC) 0.6 0.7 0.9 1.3 1.4 
		
	
	 (b) Estimates of carbon savings from renewable electricity under the renewables obligation between 2008 and 2020 is given in the following table. These estimates assume that renewable electricity displaces gas generation, with a carbon factor of 95.7 MtC per GWh additional generation. The table gives savings based on its current structure, and under the regime proposed in the Energy Bill 2008.
	
		
			Estimated carbon savings from current RO structure (MtC)   Estimated carbon savings from proposed RO structure (MtC) 
			 2008-09 1.8 1.9 
			 2009-10 2.2 2.4 
			 2010-11 2.4 2.7 
			 2011-12 2.6 3.0 
			 2012-13 2.8 3.3 
			 2013-14 3.0 3.5 
			 2014-15 3.3 3.8 
			 2015-16 3.5 4.2 
			 2016-17 3.4 4.3 
			 2017-18 3.4 4.3 
			 2018-19 3.5 4.2 
			 2019-20 3.6 4.2 
			   Note:  Estimates are based on results from the model of the renewables obligation from independent consultants. These figures are different from those included in the report 'Reform of the Renewables Obligationwhat is the likely impact of changes?'(1) as they take into account updated estimates of electricity sales and technology costs. (1) http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file39039.pdf.

Royal Mail: Delivery Services

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of the business handled by Royal Mail comprised downstream access mail in the last three years for which figures are available.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Royal Mail. I have asked the chief executive of Royal Mail, Adam Crozier, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	I will put copies of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

Trades Union Congress: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether the Trades Union Congress has a political fund, according to the records held by the Certification Officer.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 10 January 2008
	According to the records held by the Certification Officer, the Trade Union Congress has no political fund.

UK Trade and Investment: Defence

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on what date he was informed of the Prime Minister's decision to close the Defence Export Services Organisation and to move its remit to UK Trade and Investment.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 11 December 2007
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 12 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 292-93.

Unfair Commercial Practices Directive Regulations

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what timetable he envisages for the (a) publication, (b) consultation on and (c) implementation of the unfair commercial practices directive regulations.

Gareth Thomas: The Department of Trade and Industry consulted on draft Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (CPRs) implementing the unfair commercial practices directive (UCPD) in May 2007. The draft CPRs reflect the outcome of two earlier consultations about implementing the UCPD. The first consultation paper was published in December 2005 and sought views in three areas: interpretation; enforcement; and simplification of existing legislation. The second consultation in December 2006 sought views on how to frame the criminal offences in the regulations implementing the directive.
	I propose to lay the draft CPRs before Parliament in January. If approved in debate the regulations will come into force on 6 April 2008.

Wind Power

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of full-time equivalent person years that will be required to build sufficient  (a) wind turbines and  (b) associated infrastructure to meet the EU 20 per cent. renewables target.

Malcolm Wicks: It is too early to estimate what proportion of the UK contribution to the EU 20 per cent. target will come from any particular source of renewable energy, and the impact that will have. Agreement has not yet been reached on the contribution that each member state will make toward the 20 per cent. target, but we will consult in 2008 on policy options to meet the UK's contribution and publish our foil UK renewable energy strategy the following spring once the EU directive has been agreed.

Wind Power: North East Region

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the Government's policy is on the development of a North sea wind farm.

Malcolm Wicks: In November 2002, DTI published a consultation document 'Future Offshore' which outlined a strategic approach to offshore wind development in UK waters, available at the following link:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file22791.pdf.
	To date, the Government and The Crown Estate have held two competitions, Round 1 in 2000 and Round 2 in 2003, for offshore wind development rights. A map of these site lease areas can be found at the following link:
	http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/round_1_2_windfarm_sites-2.pdf.
	On 10 December, the Government announced the launch of a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) on a draft plan for up to 25 GW of new offshore wind development rights in UK waters, including in the North sea. A scoping consultation document, entitled 'UK Offshore Energy SEA Scoping for Environmental Report', is currently available at the following web link:
	http://www.offshore-sea.org.uk/downloads/Offshore_Energy_SEA_Scoping.pdf.
	Depending on the results of the SEA and the magnitude of impacts identified, the Government will take a decision on what the acceptable level of offshore wind development is. As in previous rounds, developers would then be required to bid for site leases through leasing competitions to be held by the Crown Estate and, if successful, conduct their own site evaluations and undertake an environmental impact assessment before applying for the necessary development and environmental consents to build an offshore wind farm.

HEALTH

Abortion (Amendment) Bill of Session 1979-80

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what records his Department holds of the Abortion (Amendment) Bill of Session 1979-80; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department no longer holds any files on the Abortion (Amendment) Bill of Session 1979-80. Four files have been transferred to the National Archives at Kew and are closed to the public under the 30-year rule. Two other files were destroyed following a review of the contents.

Action on Smoking and Health Foundation

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department allocated to the Action on Smoking and Health Foundation in each year since its inception.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department's grants to Action on Smoking Health under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 are set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Financial year   Grants () 
			 1996-97 229,425 
			 1997-98 114,713 
			 1998-99 143,618 
			 1999-2000 155,000 
			 2000-01 156,170 
			 2001-02 160,860 
			 2002-03 147,810 
			 2003-04 164,000 
			 2004-05 168,000 
			 2005-06 180,000 
			 2006-07 185,400 
			 2007-08 191,000

Ambulance Services: Shropshire

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet members of Shropshire county council to discuss the future status of the Shrewsbury Ambulance Control Centre.

Ben Bradshaw: The organisation and location of ambulance service control centres is a matter for local ambulance trusts. Therefore, it is recommended that the members of Shropshire county council request a meeting with Mr. Anthony Marsh, chief executive of the West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust, in order to discuss the future status of the Shrewsbury Ambulance Control Centre. The Minister of State has already met the hon. Member to discuss his concerns about the future of Shrewsbury Ambulance control centre.

Atrial Fibrillation

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide services to tackle atrial fibrillation.

Ann Keen: The provision of national health service services is the responsibility of commissioners, providers and other local service managers who are best placed to plan for and deliver the particular mix of services needed by their local population.
	The Department launched Chapter 8 of the Coronary Heart Disease National Service Framework, covering arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death, in March 2005. Chapter 8 sets out quality requirements and markers of good practice for the NHS for the development of all arrhythmia services including those for people with, or suspected of having, atrial fibrillation.
	In addition, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence produced a clinical guideline on the management of atrial fibrillation (CG36) in June 2006.
	In 2006-07, the Quality and Outcomes Framework of the general medical services contract has included quality indicators for the detection and management of patients with atrial fibrillation.
	Atrial fibrillation is also a significant risk factor for stroke. The recently published stroke strategy, therefore, reiterates the importance of good quality care for those with atrial fibrillation.

Bournemouth and Christchurch Primary Care Trust: Finance

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons specialist top-up funds paid to Bournemouth and Christchurch primary care trust district general hospitals in recognition of patients with complex conditions have been discontinued.

Ben Bradshaw: We outlined our proposals to refine the targeting of specialist top-ups for 2008-09 in the Options for the Future of Payment by Results: 2008-09 - 2010-11 consultation document published on 15 March 2007. The arrangements for 2008-09 were published on 13 December 2007 alongside the NHS operating framework.
	The aim of these proposals is to better target the top-up payments at the most specialised activity within the scope of payment by results. Copies of the consultation document are available in the Library.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of eligible women  (a) in total and  (b) in each ethnic group took part in the NHS Breast Cancer Screening Programme in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: The information requested on the total proportion of eligible women who took part in the NHS breast screening programme in each year since 1997 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			Coverage (percentage) 
			Women aged 50 to 64 
			 1997 65.6 
			 1998 66.4 
			 1999 67.7 
			 2000 69.3 
			 2001 70.2 
			 2002 69.8 
			 2003 69.3 
			 2004 69.0 
			 2005 69.5 
			 2006 69.9 
			   Note: 1. Coverage is the percentage of eligible women with a breast screening test result in the previous three years. 2. The KC63 return from which this data is gathered does not collect information on ethnic groups.   Source: Office for National Statistics/The Information Centre for health and social care, Breast Screening Programme: England 2005-06.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest estimate is of the number of interval breast cancers in each year since 1997; and what plans he has to reduce the round length of breast cancer screening.

Ann Keen: The number of interval cancers in the national health service breast screening programme are not routinely collected.
	Recent improvements in ensuring consistency in data collection have allowed for a major exercise to be undertaken between the NHS breast screening programme, the NHS cancer registries and the Cancer Screening Evaluation Unit at the Institute of Cancer Research to produce reliable national interval cancer figures for the first time. These figures will be published in 2008.
	We take the issue of the 36-month standard between screens very seriously. That is why Professor Mike Richards, the National Cancer Director, wrote to the chief executives of all 10 strategic health authorities in England on 9 February 2007 highlighting the importance of maintaining the 36-month interval. Data from NHS cancer screening programmes are monitored quarterly.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of eligible women were seen within the 36-month standard for breast cancer screenings  (a) in England and  (b) in each breast screening unit in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: Data on the 36 month interval for breast cancer screening are collected quarterly by national health service cancer screening programmes. Data for England and each breast screening unit are provided in the following table. 38 month interval rates are also given as an indicator of how close intervals are to the national standard of 36 months.
	
		
			   Breast screening unit   Percentage 36 month breast cancer screening interval rateJuly to September 2007   Percentage 38 month breast cancer screening interval rateJuly to September 2007 
			 England 70 88 
			 Bolton 86 99 
			 Chester 99 99 
			 Crewe 96 99 
			 East Lancashire 46 99 
			 Greater Manchester 25 50 
			 Liverpool 63 99 
			 Macclesfield 62 100 
			 North Cumbria 99 100 
			 North Lancashire 10 11 
			 Warrington 90 98 
			 Wigan 32 67 
			 Wirral 100 100 
			 North Tees 53 64 
			 Newcastle 90 95 
			 Gateshead 97 100 
			 Pennine 59 95 
			 North Yorkshire 85 99 
			 Leeds Wakefield 16 42 
			 Humberside 8 12 
			 Sheffield 53 97 
			 Doncaster 99 100 
			 Barnsley 99 100 
			 Rotherham 84 99 
			 North London 21 22 
			 West of London 97 98 
			 Barking and Havering 33 56 
			 Central and East London 28 73 
			 South East London 96 98 
			 King's College London 78 99 
			 South West London 88 99 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 47 90 
			 Chelmsford and Colchester 70 98 
			 Cambridge and Huntingdon 40 98 
			 Epping 1 1 
			 East Suffolk 97 99 
			 James Paget 57 92 
			 King's Lynn 56 74 
			 Norfolk and Norwich 68 97 
			 Peterborough 78 98 
			 South Essex 51 87 
			 West Suffolk 79 97 
			 City Hospital (Birmingham) 91 92 
			 Dudley and Wolverhampton 98 99 
			 Hereford and Worcester 73 99 
			 North Staffordshire 99 100 
			 Shropshire 45 96 
			 South Birmingham 96 98 
			 South Staffordshire 99 99 
			 Walsall and Sandwell 99 100 
			 Warwickshire, Solihull and Coventry 99 100 
			 Avon 74 96 
			 Cornwall 96 98 
			 Dorset 96 97 
			 East Devon 81 97 
			 Gloucestershire 98 99 
			 Somerset 92 97 
			 South Devon 97 98 
			 West Devon 99 99 
			 Wiltshire 89 99 
			 Northampton 98 99 
			 South Derbyshire 78 99 
			 North Derbyshire 95 98 
			 North Nottinghamshire 100 100 
			 Kettering 99 100 
			 Leicester 92 97 
			 Lincolnshire 21 23 
			 Nottingham 98 98 
			 Jarvis Centre (Guildford) 95 98 
			 West Sussex 48 84 
			 Brighton 13 57 
			 Canterbury 83 87 
			 Maidstone 33 87 
			 Medway 73 88 
			 Aylesbury 100 100 
			 Wycombe 100 100 
			 Milton Keynes 99 100 
			 Reading 83 95 
			 Windsor 99 100 
			 Oxford 17 99 
			 North and Mid Hampshire 53 96 
			 Southampton and Salisbury 24 84 
			 Portsmouth 100 100 
			 Isle of Wight 99 100 
		
	
	We take the issue of the 36-month standard between screens very seriously. That is why Professor Mike Richards, the national cancer director, wrote to the chief executives of all 10 strategic health authorities in England on 9 February 2007 highlighting the importance of maintaining the 36-month interval.

Cancer

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what cancer networks there are in England; and, for each, what their constituent primary care trusts are.

Ann Keen: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Cancer

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely number of cases of cancer in each of the next 10 years.

Ann Keen: Estimates of the likely number of new cases have not been made for every one of the next 10 years. However, they have been made of the likely number of new cases in each of the following years 2011, 2016 and 2020. This information is shown in the following table.
	Projected number of cancer cases (rounded to nearest 100)
	
		
			Number of cases 
			 2011 256,600 
			 2016 277,000 
			 2020 298,900

Cancer

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many emergency in-patient admissions for cancer there were in each year since 1997-98; what proportion of these were emergency readmissions in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The following table gives the finished admission episodes (FAE) for emergency admissions with a primary diagnosis of cancer for all years since 1997-98. There are no data available for readmissions for cancer.
	
		
			Finished admission episodes for emergency admissions 
			 2006-07 146,050 
			 2005-06 149,524 
			 2004-05 146,203 
			 2003-04 143,519 
			 2002-03 143,733 
			 2001-02 141,519 
			 2000-01 141,051 
			 1999-2000 144,074 
			 1998-99 141,799 
			 1997-98 141,059 
			   Notes:   FAE A FAE is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.   Diagnosis (primary diagnosis) The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (7 prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.   Data Quality HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 national health service trusts, and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data is also received from a number of Independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.   Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected from the NHS there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.   Ungrossed Data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).   Source:  HES, The Information Centre for health and social care.

Cancer

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) elective and  (b) emergency bed occupancy rates for cancer patients in the NHS as described in figure 13 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy were (i) for all cancers in total and (ii) for each cancer type in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: Information on bed occupancy rates for cancer patients is not available.
	The title to Figure 13 on page 97 of the Cancer Reform Strategy is incorrect. As described in paragraph 7.24, Figure 13 shows the number of beds by cancer type rather than the bed occupancy.
	The number of elective and emergency bed days for all cancers since 1997 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			Elective   Emergency 
			 1997-98 2,007,489 2,588,500 
			 1998-99 1,953,676 2,629,029 
			 1999-2000 1,968,890 2,735,877 
			 2000-01 1,935,569 2,851,509 
			 2001-02 1,903,450 2,949,132 
			 2002-03 1,885,870 3,053,128 
			 2003-04 1,856,090 3,064,913 
			 2004-05 1,812,749 3,083,436 
			 2005-06 1,841,968 3,103,193 
			 Total 17,165,751 26,058,717 
			   Source:  National Cancer Services Analytical Team, www.canceruk.net 
		
	
	Information on the number of elective and emergency bed days broken down by cancer type since 1997 has been placed in the Library.

Cancer

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the analysis referred to in paragraph 7.22 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy on projected cancer in-patient costs.

Ann Keen: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Cancer

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many specialist diagnostic units, referred to in paragraph 7.14 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy, there are; where they are situated; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Information on the number and location of all specialist diagnostic units is not held centrally.
	Over 99 per cent. of patients with suspected cancer are now seen by a specialist within two weeks of referral, and over 99 per cent. of patients receive their first treatment within 31 days of diagnosis, while over 97 per cent. of patients begin treatment within 62 days of being urgently referred.
	As part of the Cancer Reform Strategy, these targets will be extended to more patients and by 2010, the 31-day target will apply to all treatments, not just the first.

Cancer Action Team

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who the members are of his Department's Cancer Action Team.

Ann Keen: The Cancer Action Team works with and supports the national health service nationally. In particular, it works with cancer networks to implement the Government's strategy for improving cancer and end of life care services. It is not a part of the Department.
	Teresa Moss is the Director of the Cancer Action Team and she has 24 members of staff.

Cancer: Clinical Trials

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the evidential basis was for the statement in paragraph 1.9 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy, that England has the highest national per capita rate of cancer trial participation in the world; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The number of cancer patients entering trials in the United Kingdom has grown since 2001 to the point where it is almost the same as the number entering trials in the United States of America (USA). The USA and the UK have the largest number of cancer trial participants in the world. These facts, and the difference in population size between the two countries, form the basis of our assessment of the relative level of the current per capita participation rate in the UK.

Cancer: Death

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects cancer networks to agree local cancer mortality reduction targets for 2012, as described in paragraph 6.9 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy; what definition of cancer mortality he intends to use; how achievement against cancer mortality targets will be assessed; whether each local cancer mortality reduction target will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Local mortality reduction goals will be developed and finalised during 2008. It is important to note that these are goals and not targets.
	The details, include definitions, assessment and publication, are yet to be decided.

Cancer: Drugs

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the evidential basis is for the statement in paragraph 10.8 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy, that there is significant variation in cancer drugs approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) between cancer networks; what the levels of expenditure on NICE-approved cancer drugs by each cancer network is; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The evidential basis for the statement that there is variation in expenditure on cancer drugs approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) between cancer networks is set out in two reports published by the National Cancer Director:
	Variation in usage of cancer drugs approved by NICE, June 2004
	Usage of Cancer Drugs approved by NICE, September 2006
	Both these reports are available on the Department of Health website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4083901
	and
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4139061
	respectively). Copies of both reports are available in the Library.
	The Department does not collect the actual levels of expenditure on NICE-approved cancer drugs by network. However, Figure 17 in the Cancer Reform Strategy sets out the estimated cost per head of NICE-approved cancer drugs used in hospitals between January-June 2005. This chart was based on data from the National Cancer Director's 2006 report plus estimates of drug prices. The chart is anonymised because the data on which it is based has many limitations and the error range is large. It provides a useful indication of the likely spread of spend across the country but is not deemed accurate enough to provide a fair comparison between named networks.
	Progress has been made in reducing variation in usage of cancer drugs across the country but there is scope for further reductions. The National Cancer Director recommended in his 2006 report repeating his evaluation of cancer drug usage periodically to ensure that the level of variation is reduced as much as possible. The Cancer Reform Strategy confirmed that the next evaluation will take place during 2008.

Cancer: Drugs

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the National Cancer Director intends to conduct an evaluation of usage of cancer drugs approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, as stated in paragraph 4.51 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy, in the years after 2008.

Ann Keen: The National Cancer Director recommended, in his 2006 report Usage of cancer drugs approved by NICE, that such evaluations should be repeated periodically. No decision has yet been taken about when it would be most appropriate to repeat the exercise following the one due in 2008.

Cancer: Drugs

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to issue national guidance to clinicians to assist them in discussing with their patients drugs which are not available on the NHS, as described in paragraph 4.50 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: The Department has no plans to issue national guidance on this matter. However, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) publishes information targeted specifically at service users (Understanding NICE Guidance) to explain its appraisals. Clinicians could use these documents to help discuss drugs which NICE has concluded are not clinically or cost effective for a particular patient's condition.

Cancer: Drugs

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that primary care trusts should publish their individual criteria for determining which patients should access treatments for cancer drugs in those cases where guidance on the use of the drug has not been issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Ann Keen: The Department has no plans to issue guidance or revise policy on this matter.

Cancer: Health Education

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how frequently the surveys of cancer symptom awareness, referred to in paragraph 3.47 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy, will be conducted.

Ann Keen: As set out in paragraph 8.6 of the Cancer Reform Strategy, the first survey is likely to be in late 2008 or 2009. It will then be repeated at least every two years.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what national measures are used to assess cancer services through peer review, as stated in paragraph 1.26 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: The national measures used to assess cancer services through peer review are set out in the Manual for Cancer Services 2004 which is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Healthandsocialcaretopics/Cancer/DH_4135595

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of patients received their first treatment for cancer within one month of diagnosis in the latest period for which figures are available, calculated using  (a) Korner and  (b) Hospital Episode Statistics data.

Ann Keen: The data requested are not available, as the waiting times standards within the NHS Cancer Plan (2000) are not monitored using Korner data collections or Hospital Episode Statistics.
	The most recently available statistics from the Cancer Waiting Times Database (quarter 2 2007-08) show that 99.7 per cent. of patients received first treatment within one month of diagnosis.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to develop a kitemark for good cancer facilities, as described in paragraph 11.8 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: The Department will be working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support to develop the kitemark for cancer facilities. This work will commence in 2008.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which cancer networks three-year planning for implementing Improving Outcomes Guidance was found to be weak, as described in paragraph 9.29 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: 19 Cancer Networks did not have an agreed three year Network Service Delivery Plan at the time of their peer review visit. These were:
	Lancashire and South Cumbria
	Humber and Yorkshire Coast
	North West Midlands
	Pan-Birmingham
	North West Midlands
	South Essex
	North London
	South West London
	Three Counties
	Kent and Medway
	Cancer Care Alliance
	North Trent
	Black Country
	Arden
	Mid Anglia
	Mount Vernon
	North East London
	Dorset
	Sussex
	It should be noted that the peer review visits took place between November 2004 to March 2007 and so do not necessarily reflect the current position. It should also be noted that some of these networks have since merged.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to complete the design of the technical specifications for the NHS Cancer Patient Experience Survey Programme, as described in paragraph 5.73 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy; when he expects the national contract to run the cancer patient experience surveys to be let; and when he expects the first survey to be published.

Ann Keen: An expert group, including patients, will be set up in the first half of 2008 to design the technical specifications of the national health service cancer patient experience survey programme and a national contract will then be let for the collection, management and analysis of cancer patient experience surveys in 2008-09 with first results expected in 2009-10.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of multi-disciplinary cancer teams dealing with each type of cancer do not have clinical nurse specialist cover, as described in paragraph 5.43 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The percentage of multi-disciplinary cancer teams (MDT) without clinical nurse specialist cover at the time of their peer review visit is set out, for the tumour types known, in the following table:
	
		
			   Type of MDT   Percentage of MDTs without CNS cover at peer review visit 
			 Urology (local) 20 
			 Urology (specialist) 10 
			 Lung 20 
			 Upper Gastro-intestinal (local) 31 
			 Upper Gastro-intestinal (specialist) 14 
			 Bowel 5 
			 Breast 4 
			 Gynaecology (local) 21 
			 Gynaecology (specialist) 2 
		
	
	This information has been extracted from the cancer quality improvement network system (CQuINS), a web-based tool that has been developed to support acute trusts and cancer networks as part of the national cancer peer review programme. However, it should be noted that the peer review visits on which this information is based took place between November 2004 and March 2007 and so that position does not necessarily reflect the current position.
	The cancer reform strategy, published on 3 December 2007, acknowledged the vital role that clinical nurse specialists can play in improving the experience of people living with cancer and across many aspects of the management and support of cancer patients. The strategy noted that good commissioners should benchmark their local cancer nurse specialist provision against that of similar primary care trusts and take action where this work force is found to be insufficient.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which cancer networks do not have information managers in post.

Ann Keen: The following cancer networks do not currently have an information manager in post:
	Anglia
	Arden
	Essex
	Kent and Medway
	Mid Trent
	Mount Vernon
	North London
	Peninsula
	South East London
	South West London
	Sussex
	West London
	Yorkshire.
	For networks where no current information manager is in post, two will be recruiting in January 2008, as funds have become available, and nine networks will be given a year's funding from Macmillan to support an information role.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health where the pilots undertaken by the Cancer Services Collaborative referred to in paragraph 4.7 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy were undertaken; what new approach to implementing cancer waiting time reductions was investigated in each pilot; whether the pilots have been formally evaluated; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Cancer Services Collaborative Improvement Partnership pilot sites were:
	County Durham and Darlington NHS trust (tested the proposed two-week wait for all breast problems);
	Whittington Hospital NHS trust (proposed two-week wait for all bowel problems);
	Manchester Cancer Network (proposed two-week wait for all lung referrals);
	Cambridge Breast Unit (reducing follow up);
	Sheffield teaching hospital (31-day standard for all radiotherapy treatments and the right of consultants to upgrade patients onto a 62-day pathway where cancer is suspected); and
	Luton and Dunstable hospital (stretching the current standards to see how quickly patients could be seen and treated).
	The work of the pilot sites is reported on the Cancer Services Collaborative Improvement Partnership website at:
	www.cancerimprovement.nhs.uk
	The new approach involved using service improvement techniques (such as High Impact Changes, and Lean), to assess whether proposed extensions to the current cancer waiting times standards were achievable. The work of the pilot sites informed the development of the Cancer Reform Strategy.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) missed diagnoses of cancer,  (b) radiotherapy errors and  (c) chemotherapy errors were reported to the National Patient Safety Agency in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: The National Patient Safety Agency collects reports of patient safety incidents on the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) in England and Wales. All national health service trusts have been able to report into this system since late 2005. The number of reports received each year has increased as more trusts report into the system. Staff usually report patient safety incidents before any further investigation or follow-up has taken place.
	Complete statistics are available for the years October 2005 to September 2006 and for October 2006 to September 2007. The following figures refer to England and Wales.
	 Missed diagnoses of cancer
	Incidents were identified from the NRLS where the incident type related to delay or failure to diagnose or related to problems with tests or scans.
	Between October 2005 and September 2006, 433 such incidents were reported.
	For the period October 2006 to September 2007 there were 502 cases reported.
	 Radiotherapy errors
	Incidents were identified from the NRLS for the most recent two years where the patient was receiving radiotherapy treatment. It is important to note that the incidents identified will have resulted from a range of factors and may not be directly related to radiotherapy treatment.
	Between October 2005 and September 2006, 1,468 such incidents were reported. Between October 2006 and September 2007 there were 1,854 cases reported.
	 Chemotherapy errors
	Incidents were identified from the NRLS where the patient was receiving chemotherapy treatment. Cases were identified from drug names used in the incident description or medication fields relating to chemotherapy therapy. It is important to note that the incidents identified will have resulted from a range of factors and may not be directly related to chemotherapy treatment.
	Between October 2005 and September 2006 there were 4,942 such incidents reported. For the period October 2006 to September 2007 there were 6,344 cases reported.

Cancer: Health Services

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish a report on the outcomes of the National Cancer Peer Review Programme.

Ann Keen: The report of the 2004-07 round of cancer peer review will be published this year.

Cancer: Health Services

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional cancer  (a) treatment and  (b) equipment has been made available to trusts in Redbridge and Waltham Forest since the appointment of his Department's National Cancer Director; and what the involvement was of the National Cancer Director in such provision.

Ann Keen: Aside from correspondence with the right hon. Member concerning Whipps Cross Hospital, Professor Mike Richards, the National Cancer Director, has had no direct involvement with Redbridge and Waltham Forest primary care trusts.
	The location and organisation of cancer services are a matter for local decisions.

Cancer: Information

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the proportion of cancer patients who are not given any financial support information in the course of their treatment.

Ann Keen: The latest assessment of the proportion of cancer patients who were not given any financial support information during the course of their treatment was made by the National Audit Office in their 2005 report, Tackling Cancer: Improving the Patient Journey.

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health from which countries he intends proton therapy for suitable cancers to be commissioned as described on page 61 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy; and what the expected budget for this is in 2008-09.

Ann Keen: It has not yet been decided from which countries proton therapy will be commissioned. The budget will depend on demand and there is a degree of uncertainly about what that demand will be. However, it is currently estimated that the budget for 2008-09 will need to be in the region of 600,000.

Cancer: Nurses

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cancer clinical nurse specialists there were  (a) of each cancer specification and  (b) in each cancer network working in the NHS in (i) 1997, (ii) 2001, (iii) 2005 and (iv) 2007.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.

Cancer: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department's plans  (a) to tackle the falling participation of women aged 25 to 35 years in cervical screening,  (b) to extend breast cancer screening to nine screening rounds between 47 and 73 years,  (c) rollout digital mammography,  (d) to expand the bowel cancer screening programme from 2010 and  (e) to introduce a new National Awareness and Early Diagnosis initiative are expected to cost in each financial year for which an estimate has been made.

Ann Keen: The requested information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Estimates for annual costs of CRS components 
			million 
			2008-09   2009-10   2010-11   2011-12   2012-13   2013-14   2014-15   2015-16   2016-17   2017-18 
			   (a) Increase participation of young women in cervical cancer screening 0.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 
			   (b) Extend breast cancer screening to nine rounds 12.0 24.0 24.0 24.0 24.0 24.0 24.0 24.0 24.0 24.0 
			   (c) Digital mammography 3.3 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.1 
			   (c) Digital mammographycapital 59.6 56.3 
			   (d) Expand bowel cancer screening programme   66.4 66.4 66.4 66.4 66.4 66.4 66.4 66.4 
			   (e) National awareness and early diagnosis and inequalities 3.0 7.0 11.0 11.0 11.0 11.0 11.0 11.0 11.0 11.0

Cancer: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expected expenditure is on the NHS Cancer Screening Programme's press offices public relations strategy, referred to in paragraph 3.17 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: National health service cancer screening programme's press office public relations strategy to improve the coverage of cervical screening is in its planning stages, and exact costings cannot be provided at this stage. NHS cancer screening programmes will take steps to ensure the strategy is structured and delivered in the most cost effective manner.

Cancer: Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of women participated in the cervical screening programme  (a) in total and  (b) in the 25 to 33 age group in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: The Cancer Reform Strategy highlighted the falling participation in cervical screening of women aged 25 to 35. The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			   Coverage   1997   1998   1999   2000   2001   2002   2003   2004   2005   2006   2007 
			 Women aged 25-64 82.0 82.5 82.3 82.0 81.3 81.6 81.2 80.6 80.3 79.5 79.2 
			 Women aged 25-29 78.4 78.8 78.0 77.0 75.5 75.0 74.0 72.8 71.6 69.4 68.2 
			 Women aged 30-34 83.2 83.5 83.0 82.5 81.5 81.7 81.0 80.0 79.2 78.0 77.5 
			   Note:  Coverage is the percentage of eligible women with a cervical screening test result in the previous five years   Source:  Office for National Statistics/The Information Centre for health and social care, Cervical Screening Programme: England 2006-07

Cannabis

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many admissions there were related to the use of cannabis in each hospital within Greater London in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available has been placed in the Library.

Carers' Allowances

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the future of the carer's allowance.

Anne McGuire: I have been asked to reply.
	The whole issue of carers' incomes, including carer's allowance, is being examined in depth as part of the current review of our National Carers Strategy. The findings of the review are due to be published in spring 2008.

College of Chiropractors: Royal Charters

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to support the application by the college of Chiropractors to the Privy Council for a royal charter.

Ben Bradshaw: An application by the college of Chiropractors has been submitted to the Privy Council for a royal charter. Decisions as to whether to grant a royal charter are a matter for the Privy Council, who will of course assess the college's application against the published criteria. It would not be appropriate for us to prejudge or pre-empt the Privy Council's collective discussions.

Communication Skills: Children

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health where the pilots on communication skills for effective face-to-face communication for children and young people, referred to in paragraph 5.14 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy, have been undertaken; and when he expects the course based on the national model to be developed.

Ann Keen: Two pilots were held, one in Esher and one in Liverpool. It is anticipated that the children and young people communication training programme will be taken forward when the united model for adult advanced communications skills training is rolled out early next year.

Communication Skills: Health Professions

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding has been committed to the national programme for advanced communication skills training for senior healthcare professionals, as described in paragraph 5.11 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy, in each year since 2003; and how many senior healthcare professionals have taken part in the national programme in each of those years.

Ann Keen: The following table shows the funding allocated to the national programme for advanced communications skills training between the financial years 2005-06 and 2007-08. This funding is allocated through the bundle of central budgets to strategic health authorities.
	
		
			Funding ( million) 
			 2005-06 0.5 
			 2006-07 1.5 
			 2007-08 1.9 
			   Source: Cancer Action Team 
		
	
	The cancer action team manage this programme in partnership with other parts of the national health service. In the last three years, the programme has trained 150 facilitators to deliver this course and approximately 1,300 senior healthcare professionals have participated in the training. It is estimated that an equivalent number will be trained in 2007-08.
	Prior to 2005-06 the programme was managed by the NHS University and figures are not available for that period.

Community Hospitals

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make representations to the Chief Executive Officer of the Eastern and Coastal Primary Care Trust to address the concerns raised in a letter to him dated 6 November 2007 from the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey on behalf of Rodmersham Women's Institute on the changes to community hospitals in general and at Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital in particular.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 7 January 2008
	 It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) in conjunction with other local stakeholders and their strategic health authorities (SHAs) to make assessments of health needs and to make decisions on local services.
	South East Coast SHA has advised officials, that the Chief Executive of Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT replied to the hon. Friend's letter dated 6 November, on 19 December.
	More generally, the Department set up a 750 million fund for community hospitals and services in July 2006. The Department has so far approved 23 schemes, and released 190 million from the community hospitals programme for these schemes.

Community Hospitals: Greater London

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many bids from primary care trusts within Greater London have been received for the funding for community hospitals announced by his Department in December 2005 also work for organisations outside his Department;
	(2)  how much has been allocated to primary care trusts within Greater London from the funding for community hospitals announced by his Department in December 2005.

Ben Bradshaw: We have received seven bids from primary care trusts within the London strategic health authority. Four schemes have been approved with a total value of 33.6 million, of which 14.3 million is funded from the community hospitals and services programme.

Community Nurses: Manpower

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 23 October 2007,  Official Report, column 262W, on community matrons, what assessment he has made of progress in meeting his departmental target of recruiting 3,000 community matrons by 2008.

Ann Keen: Although the National Health Service Improvement Plan (2004) stated that there would be 3,000 community matrons in post by 2008, we brought delivery forward to 2007, to ensure that the appropriate number of community matrons were in post to support delivery of the Emergency Bed Day reductions.
	During the local delivery planning exercise last summer, strategic health authorities raised the need for flexibility to change their target envelopes for community matrons in situations where they could provide compelling evidence that there was a local need to do this. The Department provided this flexibility in recognition of the fact that in some cases a case manager other than a community matron may be best placed to provide the service to the patient.
	2006 NHS work force census showed there were 366 community matrons in post, an increase of 37.1 per cent. since 2005. However, local intelligence suggests that there are actually many more community matrons in post than the work force census suggests, along with others delivering care and providing services to patients.
	We remain committed to increasing the number of community matrons and local development plans strongly suggest this is happening. The equivalent results of the 2007 NHS work force census will be published in the spring of this year.

Dental Services: Hampshire

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will initiate research on the number of Hampshire residents who have to travel  (a) up to five miles,  (b) between five and 10 miles and  (c) over 10 miles in order to gain access to an NHS dentist; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: It would not be appropriate for the Department to centrally commission research into travelling times in any particular local area. It is for Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to commission local dental services to meet local needs. PCTs are expected to develop robust commissioning plans. These will include consideration of access to local dental services at the time and place people want.

Dentistry: Manpower

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the numbers of orthodontists available to the acute health sector in England; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: As of 30 September 2006 there was a total of 544 orthodontists in England, who worked in hospital and community services. Of these, 189 were consultants.
	The figures quoted are headcounts.

Dentistry: Manpower

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have been recruited to  (a) part-time and  (b) full-time NHS work in each primary care trust area in Hampshire in each of the last five years; and what his forecast is of such numbers for the next three years.

Ann Keen: Information on dentists recruited to the national health service is not available at a part-time basis. Information on dentists who joined the NHS, by primary care trust (PCT) within Hampshire and Isle of Wight strategic health authority (SHA) area, as at year ending 31 March 2002 to 2006 can be found in the following table.
	
		
			   General Dental Services (GDS) and Personal Dental Services (PDS): Number of NHS dentists who joined the GDS or PDS, in Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA by PCT as at year ending 31 March 2002 to 2006 
			2002   2003   2004   2005   2006 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA 58 48 45 63 89 
			 Blackwater Valley and Hart PCT 7 3 7 10 9 
			 East Hampshire PCT 6 4 3 5 5 
			 Eastleigh and Test Valley South PCT 3 1 0 4 9 
			 Fareham and Gosport PCT 8 6 3 3 9 
			 Isle of Wight PCT 2 2 1 9 11 
			 Mid-Hampshire PCT 5 7 4 7 8 
			 New Forest PCT 6 5 7 7 13 
			 North Hampshire PCT 6 6 3 6 6 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 9 7 9 7 7 
			 Southampton City PCT 6 8 8 7 13 
			   Notes:  1. A joiner indicates that the dentist had an open GDS or PDS contract as at 31 March of the specified year but didn't at the same date of the previous year.  2. A dentist may have joined a GDS or PDS contract within more than one PCT or SHA area, in which case they would appear in figures for each individual PCT or SHA area.Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care. NHS Business Services Authority. 
		
	
	This information is based on the old contractual arrangements. To provide information based on the new contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
	The Government have provided for the expansion of the dental workforce by increasing the number of undergraduate training places at dental schools in England from 670 to 840, a 25 per cent. increase. The new dental schools currently under development in the South West Peninsula and in central Lancashire, which are part of this expansion programme, are a clear sign of the Government's commitment to putting the growth of the dental workforce on a secure footing.
	An additional 40 dentists (graduate entrants on a shorter course) will graduate in 2009 with build up to the full 170 in 2010.

Dentistry: Manpower

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists  (a) partially and  (b) entirely gave up NHS work in each primary care trust area in Hampshire in each of the last five years; and what his forecast is for the numbers expected to do so in each of the next three years.

Ann Keen: Information on dentists partially giving up national health service work is not available. Information on dentists who left the NHS, by primary care trust (PCT) within Hampshire and Isle of Wight strategic health authority (SHA) area, as at year ending 31 March 2002 to 2006 can be found in the following table.
	This information is based on the old contractual arrangements. Information based on the new contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   General Dental Services (GDS) and Personal Dental Services (PDS): Number of NHS dentists who left the GDS or PDS, in Hampshire and Isle of Wight strategic health authority by PCT as at year ending 31 March 2002 to 2006 
			2002   2003   2004   2005   2006 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA 43 46 62 43 48 
			 Blackwater Valley and Hart PCT 4 9 2 4 7 
			 East Hampshire PCT 4 7 12 4 7 
			 Eastleigh and Test Valley South PCT 4 3 2 4 3 
			 Fareham and Gosport PCT 3 4 8 6 1 
			 Isle of Wight PCT 3 2 5 3 4 
			 Mid-Hampshire PCT 5 4 10 7 5 
			 New Forest PCT 4 5 4 7 5 
			 North Hampshire PCT 4 2 7 1 4 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 5 5 4 5 4 
			 Southampton City PCT 7 5 9 3 8 
			   Notes:  1. Leaver indicates that the dentist didn't have an open GDS or PDS contract as at 31 March of the specified year but did at the same date of the previous year.  2. A dentist may have left a GDS or PDS contract within more than one PCT or SHA area, in which case they would appear in figures for each individual PCT or SHA area.Sources:  The Information Centre for health and social care. NHS Business Services Authority. 
		
	
	The Government have provided for the expansion of the dental workforce by increasing the number of undergraduate training places at dental schools in England from 670 to 840, a 25 per cent. increase. The new dental schools currently under development in the South West Peninsula and in central Lancashire, which are part of this expansion programme, are a clear sign of the Government's commitment to putting the growth of the dental workforce on a secure footing.
	An additional 40 additional dentists (graduate entrants on a shorter course) will graduate in 2009 with build-up to the full 170 in 2010.

Departmental Aviation

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many air miles were travelled by Ministers in his Department in each year since 2000; and what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced as a result;
	(2)  how many air miles were travelled by  (a) him and  (b) Ministers in his Department on short haul flights over the last year; and what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced as a result of these flights.

Ben Bradshaw: Since 1999 the Government have published a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over 500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007, and is available on the Cabinet Office website at:
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/ministers.aspx
	Details for the current financial year will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. From next year, the list will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the 'Ministerial Code'.
	All central Government ministerial and official air travel has been offset from 1 April 2006. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to a central fund. The fund purchases certified emissions reductions credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.
	In addition, offsetting the flights of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development, and the Prime Minister has been backdated to 1 April 2005.
	A list of Government carbon offsetting fund members, their emission figures and what activities they have offset through the fund is available online at:
	www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/carbonoffset/government.htm.

Departmental Aviation

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by his Department on international flights in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: Since 1999 the Government have published a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over 500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007, and is available on the Cabinet Office's website at:
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/proprietyandethics/ministers.aspx.
	Details for the current financial year will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. From next year, the list will include details of overseas travel undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
	Information in respect of flights taken by officials could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Board

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2007,  Official Report, column 711W on the Departmental Board, on what date the NHS Management Board met to discuss the health input to the Olympics, as referred to in paragraph 1.9 of the minutes of the meeting held in June 2007.

Ben Bradshaw: The National Health Service Management Board discussed the health input to the Olympics on 25 September 2007.

Departmental Correspondence

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters his Department received from hon. Members and Peers in each session of Parliament since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. Information relating to 2007 will be published as soon as it has been collated. The report for 2006 was published on 28 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 101-04WS. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library.

Departmental Internet

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the site map for his Department's Delphi staff intranet.

Ben Bradshaw: A copy of the site map for the Department's staff intranet, Delphi, has been placed in the Library.

Departmental Manpower

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the full-time equivalent headcount in his Department is; what the forecast full-time equivalent headcount for his Department is for  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The full-time equivalent headcount for the Department is contained in quarterly workforce statistics published by ONS, which can be found at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/pse0907.pdf.
	Forecasts for 2008-09 and 2009-10 will be established through a business planning exercise which will begin shortly.

Departmental Manpower

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) men and  (b) women are employed by his Department, broken down by civil service grade.

Ben Bradshaw: This information has been provided by the Office for National Statistics in Table H on page 28 of the amendment to Civil Service Statistics 2006 published on 19 July 2007, which can be found at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/2006CivilServiceStatistics.pdf

Departmental Pay

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of his Department's staff are employed within each salary band; what the title and role of each position within each salary band is; and for each salary band what the  (a) bonus structure,  (b) retirement provision,  (c) expenses provision,  (d) total expenses incurred in each of the last 10 years,  (e) average age of employee,  (f) number of (i) women and (ii) men and  (g) ethnic composition is.

Ben Bradshaw: Figures showing how many departmental staffand what proportion of staffare employed within each salary band, are presented in the following table. Figures include all people currently on the Department's payroll.
	
		
			   Salary band   Number of staff in band   Proportion of total staff in band (percentage) 
			 Up to 15,000 6 0.3 
			 15,001-20,000 111 4.7 
			 20,001-25,000 306 13.0 
			 25,001-30,000 343 14.6 
			 30,001-35,000 332 14.0 
			 35,001-40,000 161 6.9 
			 40,001-45,000 247 10.5 
			 45,001-50,000 141 6.0 
			 50,001-55,000 156 6.6 
			 55,001-60,000 149 6.0 
			 60,001-65,000 68 3.2 
			 65,001-70,000 105 4.4 
			 70,001-75,000 63 2.8 
			 75,001-80,000 38 1.4 
			 80,001-85,000 22 1.1 
			 85,001-90,000 29 1.2 
			 90,001-95,000 16 0.7 
			 95,001-100,000 13 0.6 
			 100,001-110,000 8 0.3 
			 110,001-120,000 13 0.5 
			 120,001-130,000 9 0.5 
			 130,001-140,000 3 0.1 
			 140,001-150,000 1 0.0 
			 Over 150,000 11 0.5 
			 Total 2,351 100.0 
		
	
	As the Department has over 2,000 members of staff, the question as to what the title and role of each position within each salary band is can be produced only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department operates a recognised civil service grade structure, with an associated reward policy.
	Special bonuses can be awarded to any member of staff in recognition of work beyond their normal range of duties. Annual bonuses are paid to staff who are members of the senior civil service (SCS). Details of arrangements, including provision for bonuses, can be found in the Human Resource Practitioners' Guide to SCS reward benefits and recruitment which is available at the civil service website at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/documents/doc/pay_reward/HR_Reward_guide_2007.doc
	Details of retirement provision can be found on the civil service pensions website at:
	www.civilservice-pensions.gov.uk
	Expenses provision is not recorded by salary band and to derive the figures requested would incur disproportionate costs.
	However, total expenses incurred overall form part of the Department of Health Resource Accounts which are laid before Parliament annually, and are available in the Library.
	The average age of employees is currently 42.2 years.
	Information on the number of women and men and ethnic composition within the Department has been provided by the Office for National Statistics in table H on page 28 of the amendment to Civil Service Statistics 2006 published on 19 July 2007, which can be found at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/2006CivilServiceStatistics.pdf

Departmental Pay

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2007,  Official Report, column 303W, on departmental pay, how many of those earning over 100,000 were employed as  (a) special advisers and  (b) in a political role in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the number of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on Thursday 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 147-51WS.
	Information on the numbers and costs of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and this information is available in the Library.

Departmental Public Bodies

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 13 November 2007,  Official Report, column 188W, on departmental bodies, if he will  (a) place in the Library a copy of the survey carried out in autumn 2006 and  (b) provide a list of all such groups that are currently being run by his Department.

Ben Bradshaw: The survey carried out in autumn 2006 by the Department was a short-term project to identify the number of working groups that existed at the time. A copy of the survey questions and the list of groups identified have been placed in the Library. There is no current update of the survey results.

Departmental Public Buildings

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of new buildings approved by his Department were built to the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method  (a) very good and  (b) excellent standard in each of the last five years; and what the construction cost of those buildings was.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 10 December 2007
	The National Health Service Environmental Assessment Tool kit (NEAT) is the Department's response to the Government's objective of a sustainable construction programme through the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM).
	All NHS capital development schemes must submit a NEAT as part of their Appointment of Preferred Bidder Case or Full Business Case for private finance initiative (PFI) and public capital funded schemes respectively. To be approved the business case must demonstrate a commitment to meeting the NEAT score rating of 'excellent' for a new build or 'Very Good' for a refurbishment scheme. All business cases approved by the Department in the last five years and for which records are held centrally have therefore done so. The full list of these schemes and their construction (capital) costs is in the following table.
	
		
			   NHS trust   Financial close/tender award date   Procurement route   Capital value( million) 
			 Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys 4 July 2003 PFI 16 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals 9 July 2003 PFI 110 
			 Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber Mental Health 11 August 2003 PFI 15 
			 Derby Hospitals 12 September 2003 PFI 312 
			 Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals 1 October 2003 Public capital 57 
			 Hammersmith Hospitals 1 October 2003 Public capital 25 
			 Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre 1 October 2003 Public capital 45 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals 13 October 2003 PFI 30 
			 Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals 1 November 2003 Public capital 59 
			 North West London Hospitals 6 November 2003 PFI 69 
			 Brighton and Sussex University 12 December 2003 Public capital 12 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals 19 February 2003 PFI 134 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals 15 January 2004 PFI 238 
			 Newham University Hospital 27 January 2004 PFI 55 
			 Southampton University Hospitals 1 February 2004 Public capital 53 
			 Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership 13 March 2004 PFI 83 
			 Salisbury Health Care 4 March 2004 PFI 24 
			 Plymouth Hospitals 1 April 2004 Public capital 31 
			 Kirklees PCT 21 April 2004 PFI 27 
			 Wandsworth PCT 6 May 2004 PFI 75 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 10 May 2004 PFI 32 
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals 21 May 2004 PFI 47 
			 Brighton and Sussex University 10 June 2004 PFI 36 
			 The Lewisham Hospital 8 July 2004 PFI 72 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals 15 October 2004 PFI 265 
			 Cambridge University Hospital 27 October 2004 PFI 76 
			 The Cardiothoracic Centre Liverpool 1 November 2004 Public capital 49 
			 Hampshire PCT 18 November 2004 PFI 36 
			 Kingston Hospital 23 November 2004 PFI 33 
			 Central Manchester and Manchester Children's Hospitals 14 December 2004 PFI 512 
			 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals 19 December 2004 PFI 35 
			 Nottinghamshire Healthcare 23 December 2004 PFI 19 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 3 March 2005 PFI 28 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals 27 April 2005 PFI 299 
			 West London Mental HealthWomen's MH 1 June 2005 Public capital 27 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 21 July 2005 PFI 24 
			 South London and Maudsley 12 September 2005 Public capital 25 
			 Sherwood Forest Hospitals 29 October 2005 PFI 326 
			 Portsmouth Hospitals 12 December 2005 PFI 236 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals 13 December 2005 PFI 129 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals 21 February 2006 PFI 67 
			 Ipswich Hospital 27 March 2006 PFI 36 
			 Barts and the London 27 April 2006 PFI 1,000 
			 St. Helens Hospitals 1 June 2006 PFI 338 
			 University Hospital Birmingham/Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health 8 June 2006 PFI 627 
			 South West Essex Teaching PCT 29 June 2006 PFI 30 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals 1 August 2006 Public capital 51 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children 9 October 2006 Public capital 75 
			 United Bristol Healthcare/North Bristol 16 October 2006 | Public capital 64 
			 University Hospital of North Staffordshire 1 December 2006 Public capital 55 
			 Taunton and Somerset 28 February 2007 PFI 21 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals 1 May 2007 Public capital 29 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 3 May 2007 PFI 29 
			 University Hospital of North Staffordshire/Stoke PCT 13 June 2007 PFI 375 
			 Mid Yorkshire Hospitals 22 June 2007 PFI 353 
			 Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals 29 June 2007 PFI 336 
			 North Middlesex University Hospital 27 July 2007 PFI 144 
			 Salford Royal Hospitals 5 September 2007 PFI 190 
			 Tameside and Glossop Acute Services 13 September 2007 PFI 109 
			 South Essex Partnership 5 October 2007 PFI 32 
			 Derbyshire Mental Health Services 9 October 2007 PFI 36 
			 West Hertfordshire Hospitals 14 October 2007 Public capital 40 
			 Northamptonshire Healthcare 31 October 2007 PFI 36 
			 Walsall Hospitals 3 November 2007 PFI 169 
			 Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys 6 December 2007 PFI 75 
			 Mid Essex Hospital Services 6 December 2007 PFI 148

Departmental Redundancy

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of redundancies in his Department in the 12 months preceding  (a) 30 June 2004,  (b) 30 June 2005 and  (c) 30 June 2006.

Ben Bradshaw: The requested informationorganised with respect to financial yearsis shown in the following table. Data for 2003-04 could be gathered only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			Compulsory ()   Voluntary ()   Total ()   Number of leavers 
			 2004-05 18,808,078 4,334,777 23,142,855 200 
			 2005-06 3,560,055 2,981,767 6,541,822 33

Departmental Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in his Department  (a) were disciplined and  (b) had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: Central human resources (HR) records do not hold the required information before 1 August 2006 as prior to that date the HR function was devolved and information was held only locally.
	The Department of Health manages long-term absence through a standard procedure based on accepted policy. Between 1 August 2006 and 31 March 2007, seven staff were taken through the procedure because of long-term absence due to ill-health.
	Three of these returned to work with no subsequent recurring absence. The other four are still absent and are at various stages of the long-term sick policy procedure.
	Since 1 August 2006 no staff have had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record.

Doctors: Housing

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2007,  Official Report, column 714W, on doctors: housing, which elements of the consultation between 1 October and 31 January referred  (a) directly and  (b) indirectly to the changes to the arrangements for accommodation for junior doctors.

Ann Keen: The requirement for doctors to be resident was contained within section 10 of the Medical Act. The consultation document contained a copy of the draft order which included a repeal of section 10.
	There was also a section specifically relating to the new training and supervision requirements for recently qualified practitioners. This specifically referred to the new section 10A.
	The consultation document also contained an invitation for interested parties to submit comments on any issues dealt with in the draft order.

Doctors: Housing

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2007,  Official Report, column 714W, on doctors: housing, whether the Junior Doctors Committee supported the removal of free accommodation from junior doctors.

Ann Keen: Changes to the Medical Act, which removed the statutory requirement for residence were subject to consultation. The British Medical Association were involved in the consultation process and do not appear to have objected to the proposed revisions to the Act.

Doctors: Manpower

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of  (a) doctors and  (b) nurses employed by the NHS were (i) non-UK citizens and (ii) non-EU citizens in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many  (a) doctors and  (b) nurses were recruited by the NHS from (i) non-EU countries and (ii) African countries in each year since 1999.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.
	The Information Centre for health and social care does not collect data on the nationality of doctors working in the national health service but does collect data on their country of qualification group. The latest information can be found at table four of the 'NHS Hospital and Community Health Services: Medical and Dental Staff England 1996-2006', a copy of which has been placed in the Library. No similar information is collected for nurses.
	The Nursing and Midwifery Council (the regulatory body for nurses, midwives and health visitors) does not collect data on the nationality of registered nurses or midwives but does record the country of qualification of new registrants. The latest information is available in the document 'Nursing and Midwifery Council, Statistical Analysis of the Register, 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006', which is available in the Library. Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council is not a guarantee of employment in the NHS and newly registered nurses and midwives may not be in the United Kingdom or working in the NHS.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for residential rehabilitation treatment for drug addicts  (a) nationally and  (b) in Plymouth in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not available in the format it has been requested.
	On average across England, 96 per cent. of people were able to access drug treatment in three weeks or under. Data on waiting times for substance misuse treatment for April to October 2007 show that 89 per cent. of clients entering all forms of drug treatment in Plymouth waited three weeks or under. These data are not broken down by individual types of drug treatment(1).
	Latest information from Plymouth drug action team shows that 67 out of 68 referrals for 2007 up to mid December to enter residential rehabilitation treatment (including multiple presentations by the same person) commenced treatment within 21 days and the remaining one commenced treatment within 43 days.
	The Department has made available 54.3 million of capital funding commencing in 2007 to support the expansion of residential based treatment services.
	(1) Source:
	National Drug Treatment Monitoring System.

Eyesight: Testing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received free eye tests in each London borough in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is not available in the format requested.
	The total number of sight tests paid for by the national health service are available at health authority (HA) level for 1996-97 to 2002-03 (in table 1) and at strategic health authority (SHA) and primary care trust (PCT) level for 2003-04 to 2006-07 (table 2).
	In both tables, figures are the total number of free sight tests and do not take into account individuals who may have had more than one sight test in the same area within the same time period.
	
		
			   Table 1: Total number of sight tests paid for by the NHS, by health authority, in London(  1)   between 1 April and 31 March in the specified years 
			   Thousand 
			1996-97   1997-98   1998-99   1999-00   2000-01   2001-02   2002-03 
			 London(1) 998 1,023 1,003 1,239 1,254 1,244 1,205 
			 Barking and Havering 53 52 53 72 74 77 81 
			 Barnet 50 51 52 63 70 (2) (2) 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 157 146 
			 Bexley and Greenwich 54 57 60 74 83 (2) (2) 
			 Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 146 144 
			 Brent and Harrow 75 75 76 89 87 89 87 
			 Bromley 37 38 39 58 61 (2) (2) 
			 Camden and Islington 63 57 49 58 59 58 55 
			 Croydon 47 46 46 60 60 56 56 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow 85 85 76 97 97 97 93 
			 East London and the City 113 122 118 129 127 121 110 
			 Enfield and Haringey 79 80 79 94 96 (2) (2) 
			 Hillingdon 32 32 32 45 44 48 48 
			 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster 37 43 40 49 54 52 52 
			 Kingston and Richmond 33 33 34 51 52 54 53 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham 93 94 88 106 105 103 98 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth 74 76 74 96 96 88 89 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest 73 80 86 98 92 96 92 
			 (1 )London is the Government office region and is a sum of the HAs. (2) Not applicable.   Note:  Totals may not equal the sum of component parts due to rounding.   Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care 
		
	
	
		
			   Table 2: Total number of sight tests paid for by NHS, by SHA and PCT, in London(  1)   between 1 April and 31 March in the specified years 
			   Thousand 
			2003-04   2004-05   2005-06   2006-07 
			   London(  1) 1,218 1,245 1,263 1,296 
			  
			   North West London SHA(  2) 283 287 296 304 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 40 42 43 44 
			 Ealing PCT 43 45 46 48 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 17 18 18 19 
			 Harrow PCT 46 48 48 48 
			 Hillingdon PCT 48 48 52 53 
			 Hounslow PCT 37 38 37 40 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 15 17 17 18 
			 Westminster PCT 37 32 33 35 
			  
			   North Central London SHA(  2) 209 214 214 224 
			 Barnet PCT 67 67 69 70 
			 Camden PCT 33 33 32 36 
			 Enfield PCT 44 45 47 49 
			 Haringey PCT 43 44 42 45 
			 Islington PCT 22 24 24 24 
			  
			   North East London SHA(  2) 283 293 296 305 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 27 28 27 27 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 40 42 39 41 
			 Havering PCT 49 52 53 54 
			 Newham PCT 47 51 50 54 
			 Redbridge PCT 49 51 54 54 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 27 27 29 31 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 44 43 44 43 
			  
			   South East London SHA2 241 244 248 254 
			 Bexley Care Trust 46 47 47 48 
			 Bromley PCT 62 63 64 66 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 35 35 36 38 
			 Lambeth PCT 33 34 32 32 
			 Lewisham PCT 32 32 32 33 
			 Southwark PCT 33 34 37 38 
			  
			   South West London SHA(  2) 203 207 210 209 
			 Croydon PCT 58 60 61 59 
			 Kingston PCT 29 30 30 33 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 24 24 24 22 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 53 55 57 57 
			 Wandsworth PCT 39 37 38 38 
			 (1 )London is a sum of the five London SHAs. (2 )The SHA totals are a sum of the relevant PCTs.   Note: Totals may not equal the sum of component parts due to rounding.   Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care

Family Practitioner Services

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances trusts may grant GPs the status of closed practice lists; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: A general practitioner practice can apply to their primary care trust (PCT) to have its list of patients closed. The PCT will consider the reasons for closure put forward by the practice and are required to discuss all such applications with the practice. Both the PCT and the practice are required to use reasonable endeavours to keep the practice list open but if this is not possible the PCT may agree to the practice list being closed.

Food: Safety

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used by the Food Standards Agency when determining whether to issue a food alert; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Food Safety Act 1990 places a statutory responsibility on the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to inform stakeholders of issues relating to food safety and food standards.
	The FSA provides such information to stakeholders in number of ways including webstories, press releases, letters and food alerts. Food alerts, in particular, are the FSA's formal method of communication with local authorities, who have responsibility for enforcing food law, on food safety issues that are of particular relevance to them. In determining the need for a food alert the agency takes into account the food safety requirements as specified in Regulation (EC) 178/2002 Article 14 of General Food Law, information already placed in the public domain, for example by a food business operator and the need to provide relevant additional information to local authorities.
	Food alerts either provide local authorities with additional information or outline what action they should take in response to a particular food safety issue.
	In line with the agency's policy of openness these alerts are also published on the agency's website bringing them to the attention of other stakeholders. This information can be accessed on the FSA's website at:
	www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/alerts

Food: Safety

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what food alerts have been issued by the Food Standards Agency since April 2005; and what the date and reason for each was.

Dawn Primarolo: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued 230 food alerts between April 2005 and December 2007. No food alerts have been issued, as yet, in 2008.
	All food alerts are published on the FSA's website. Information on the subject of each alert and its date of issue can be accessed on the FSA's website at:
	www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/alerts/2005/
	www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/alerts/2006/
	www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/alerts/2007/
	Information has also been placed in the Library.

Food: Safety

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring of food and foodstuffs for the presence of Sudan 1 food colorant has been undertaken by  (a) the Food Standards Agency and  (b) other public bodies since April 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Under European Commission Decision 2005/402/EC imports of chilli, chilli products, curcuma and palm oil must be accompanied by an analytical report demonstrating that the product does not contain Sudan 1. Member states are also required to undertake random sampling of imports as well as those foodstuffs already on the market.
	Random sampling is carried out by port health authorities and local authorities across the United Kingdom. The results are collated on behalf of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), who then report these to the European Commission. The FSA is also part of an European Union (EU) wide rapid alert system that informs member states of any positive samples being found of Sudan 1 in food within the EU.

General Practitioners

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government have taken to assist general practitioners in detecting signs of serious illnesses at the earliest opportunity since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 13 December 2007
	The Quality and Outcome Framework incentives provided by Government for GPs as part of the General Medical Services Contract introduced in April 2004 include case finding for people who have risk factors for the most serious diseases. These incentives include identifying people who smoke, or who are obese, or who have high blood pressure, as these are all key risk factors for serious diseases such as coronary vascular disease, strokes, diabetes and a number of cancers. Identifying people with these risk factors facilitates the earliest possible opportunity of diagnosis.
	There are a number of other initiatives to support practices including National Service Frameworks. For example, for groups such as children and older people and for specific disease areas such as cancer or diabetes. In addition there is a new cancer strategy which includes proposals for supporting early diagnosis and treatment.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Imports

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many samples from cargoes entering the United Kingdom from  (a) outside the EU and  (b) within the EU, were taken by (i) port health authorities and (ii) other public bodies, for the purposes of assessing the presence of approved and unapproved GM traits in each of the last two years; and what the cost was of taking and analysing such samples;
	(2)  how much was spent on enforcement of the Genetically Modified Organism Traceability and Labelling (England) Regulations by  (a) the Food Standards Agency and  (b) other public bodies in each year since the regulations came into force.

Dawn Primarolo: Records are not held centrally for the total numbers and costs of samples and analyses undertaken by port health authorities and other public bodies for assessing the presence of authorised and unauthorised genetically modified (GM) varieties.
	The Food Standards Agency (FSA) carried out a survey in 2006 to provide information specifically on the presence of the non-authorised GM variety, LLRICE601, in United States long grain rice held at United Kingdom rice mills. 31 samples were taken from rice mills and the total cost for sampling and testing was 5,150. A full report is available on the FSA website
	www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/fsis1906a.pdf
	Enforcement of the law relating to food and feed, including provisions relating to the Genetically Modified Organisms (Traceability and Labelling) (England) Regulations, is the responsibility of local authorities and port health authorities. Records of spending on enforcement of these regulations by local authorities and port health authorities are not held centrally.

Health Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which  (a) NHS trusts,  (b) strategic health authorities and  (c) departmental units each of the 14 providers appointed to the Framework for Procuring External Support for Commissioners (i) have previously worked in and (ii) currently work in, broken down by services provided.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not centrally collect the information requested in relation to national health service trusts and strategic health authorities. Information regarding which areas of the Department in which companies on the Framework for Procuring External Support for Commissioners list have provided services is taken from the Department's finance system. However, this information is only available from April 2004 and it is not possible to identify either the Departmental teams or the types of services provided currently or in the past, without incurring disproportionate cost:
	AXA PPP Healthcare Administration Services Limited
	CHKS Ltd. trading as Partners In Commissioning
	Dr. Foster Limited, trading as Dr. Foster Intelligence
	KPMG LLP
	McKesson Information Solutions UK Limited
	McKinsey and Company Inc. United Kingdom
	Navigant Consulting, Inc.
	Tribal Consulting Limited
	UnitedHealth Europe Limited

Health Services

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) powers and  (b) role of local government overview and scrutiny committees in the reconfiguration of local health services are.

Ann Keen: Any national health service body with a proposal to make substantial changes or developments to its services must consult relevant local authority overview and scrutiny committees (OSC).
	OSCs may: review any matters relating to the planning, provision and operation of health services in the area of the committee's local authority; make reports and recommendations to local NHS bodies which are required to respond; require the attendance of an officer of a local NHS body to answer questions and provide explanations relating to the planning, provision and operation of health services in the area; require a local NHS body to provide information relating to the planning, provision and operation of health services in the area; report to the Secretary of State for Health or Monitor where the committee is concerned that consultation on substantial variations or developments of services has been inadequate or where the committee considers that the proposal is not in the interests of the health service.
	The role of OSCs in the context of a reconfiguration is to consider whether the proposal is in the interests of the health service for the area covered by that local authority.
	Further information about the wider review and scrutiny role of OSCs is available at :
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Organisationpolicy/PatientAndPublicinvolvement

Health Services: Armed Forces

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the 10 primary care trusts with the highest concentration of serving and veteran service personnel within their area.

Ben Bradshaw: Information is not available about which primary care trusts (PCTs) have the highest concentration of veterans within their area.
	On the basis of the information available at present, our assessment is that the 10 PCTs with the highest concentration of serving personnel are Wiltshire, Hampshire, North Yorkshire, Devon, Portsmouth City, Oxfordshire, Lincolnshire, Surrey, Cornwall and Berkshire East. Together, they cover about 60 per cent., of the armed forces in England.

Health Services: Overseas Visitors

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the 38,100,000 in claims made by the UK against other European Economic Area member states in respect of healthcare provided in the UK was claimed from each member state in respect of 2006-07.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table shows the claims for medical treatment made by the United Kingdom against other European economic area member states by country.
	
		
			   UK claims against member states 
			000 
			 Austria 540,000 
			 Belgium 2,900,000 
			 France 3,800,000 
			 Germany 930,000 
			 Greece 400,000 
			 Iceland 10,000 
			 Ireland 21,140,000 
			 Italy 3,850,000 
			 Netherlands 1,950,000 
			 Spain 1,810,000 
			 Sweden 750,000 
			 Switzerland 20,000 
			   Note: Totals are rounded to nearest 10,000.

Health Services: West Midlands

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written statement of 15 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 78-81WS, on health service provision, how much was spent on the contract for diagnostic services in the West Midlands that will be terminated; and how many patients were treated under this contract.

Ben Bradshaw: Around 7.7 million has been spent on the West Midlands diagnostics scheme contract, with 2,277 diagnostic procedures delivered to national health service patients at the end of October 2007.
	An increase in productivity by local NHS providers has substantially reduced the need for the capacity provided by this scheme, with the average waiting time for all diagnostics in the West Midlands being just under three weeks at the end of September 2007.

Hospitals: Admissions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many alcohol-related emergency admissions to hospitals in Southend West constituency there were in each year since 1997, broken down by  (a) age group and  (b) sex.

Dawn Primarolo: Information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the count of finished admission episodes for alcohol-related emergency admissions by age and gender for Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Data are for the years 1997-98 to 2006-07.
	
		
			   National health service hospitals England and activity performed in the independent sector in England commissioned by English NHS 
			Male   Female 
			Age under 18   Age 18 and over   Age unknown   Age under 18   Age 18 and over   Age unknown 
			 2006-07 10 452 4 13 234 1 
			 2005-06 17 433 1 21 218 3 
			 2004-05 21 405 1 13 216 0 
			 2003-04 11 256 3 10 149 0 
			 2002-03 6 233 0 * 89 1 
			 2001-02 6 302 1 9 123 0 
			 2000-01 5 335 1 5 127 1 
			 1999-2000 9 301 2 9 130 1 
			 1998-99 8 247 2 * 122 0 
			 1997-98 7 266 2 * 133 1 
			   Notes:   Data quality HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts, and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.   Finished admission episodes (FAE) A FAE is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.   Admission method codes used: 21 = Emergency: via accident and emergency (A  E) services, including the casualty department of the provider 22 = Emergency: via general practitioner 23 = Emergency: via Bed Bureau, including the Central Bureau 24 = Emergency: via consultant out-patient clinic 28 = Emergency: other means, including patients who arrive via the A  E department of another health care provider.   Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected the NHS there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.   Low numbers Due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between 1 and 5 have been suppressed and replaced with * (an asterisk). This has not been done for the age unknown column as the admissions in this column would not be identifiable.   All diagnoses count of mentions These figures represent a count of all mentions of a diagnosis in any of the 14 diagnosis fields in the HES data set. Therefore, if a diagnosis is mentioned in more than one diagnosis field during an episode, all diagnoses are counted.   Diagnosis codes used: F10 - Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol K70 - Alcoholic liver disease T51 - Toxic effect of Alcohol   Finished consultant episode (FCE) A FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.   Ungrossed data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).   Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the Information Centre for health and social care.

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on maintenance and improvement of the  (a) supply systems and  (b) quality of stoma and incontinence products for elderly people in (i) residential care homes and (ii) their own homes; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: In primary care, users of stoma and incontinence appliances listed in part IX of the Drug Tariff are prescribed these appliances whether they live in their own home or a care home. The Department's policy on maintenance and improvement is set out as follows:
	 Supply systems
	In primary care, stoma and incontinence appliances which have been prescribed on a FP10 are dispensed by a dispensing pharmacist, dispensing appliance contractor or dispensing doctor. As a related service, patients may also receive home delivery.
	However, the Department has consulted on new arrangements for the provision of those appliances and related services in primary care in England. A key objective is that patients should receive the same standard of care no matter where they live. Consequently, one of the proposals is that dispensing appliance contractors and dispensing pharmacists shall, in the normal course of their business, provide a home or care home delivery service in respect of these appliances if the patient desires it.
	 Quality of stoma and incontinence products
	Manufacturers apply directly to the prescription pricing division (PPD) of the NHS Business Services Authority Manufacturers to have these products approved for listing on part IX of the Drugs Tariff.
	In assessing whether the product is appropriate for prescribing in primary care, the PPD may require applicants to provide clinical data to demonstrate that the product delivers clinical benefits, and any products required to carry a CE marking must do so. Providing these conditions are met, the PPD also requires that products are safe and of good quality and that they are cost-effective.
	In relatively rare cases, the PPD may seek independent advice bearing on these issues although responsibility for the eventual decision will remain with the PPD and the evidence required will depend on the individual application. The need for evidence is likely to be greater if similar products have not been listed before. The PPD may require applicants to provide clinical data to demonstrate that the product delivers clinical benefits.

Lambert Hospital

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next plans to visit the Lambert Hospital in Thirsk.

Ann Keen: The Secretary of State (Alan Johnson) makes regular visits to national health service facilities across the country. Invitations are considered on a case-by-case basis and will depend upon diary pressures and parliamentary business. Therefore, if the hon. Member wishes to, she may send a formal request to Ministers regarding a visit to the Thirsk area.

Macular Degeneration: North Yorkshire

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he expects more rapid treatment to be available to those living in North Yorkshire for age-related macular degeneration;
	(2)  what provision there is for treatment for wet macular degeneration in North Yorkshire.

Ann Keen: The Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority reports that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has already recommended the use of photodynamic therapy for treating wet age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) in some patients. North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) is funding this treatment in accordance with the guidelines set out in the latest North Derbyshire, South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Commissioning Consortium Policy document with which the PCT adheres.
	Three new drugs have been identified as possible treatment options for wet ARMD. These drugs are Macugen (Pegaptinib), Lucentis (Ranibizumab) and Avastin (Bevacizumab). NICE is currently carrying out an appraisal of Lucentis and Macugen and expects to publish final guidance in the new year. NICE published draft guidance on 14 December 2007, which is now subject to consultation with stakeholders. Avastin is not included in the appraisal, as it is not licensed.
	Where NICE has not issued guidance, PCTs are expected to make their own decisions on the funding of specific treatments based on an assessment of the available evidence.

Medical Equipment: Procurement

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that the 34 million disposable respirators and 350 million surgical face masks he is purchasing are bought from companies in the UK.

Ben Bradshaw: The tender for the procurement of the 34 million disposable respirators and 350 million surgical face masks has not commenced at this stage.
	In purchasing goods and services for the national health service, the Department is subject to all European Union public procurement regulations. The rules compel the Department to advertise and award any proposed contract in accordance with the legal procedure set out in the regulations. This ensures that the process is fair, transparent and non-discriminatory. It would be a breach of this legislation to ensure the products were only supplied by companies in the United Kingdom.

Medical Equipment: Procurement

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Government has spent on updating hospital equipment since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 7 January 2008
	 The Department does not collect information on hospital equipment spend centrally. A decision on the procurement of hospital equipment is made at a local level.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish all documents of  (a) his Department and  (b) Connecting for Health on the review into the possibility of NHS patient data being processed overseas by approved organisations.

Ben Bradshaw: A reference to a 'review' was made in an unrestricted operational guidance document made widely available to the NHS by NHS Connecting for Health in March 2006. This was subsequently wrongly described in media reports as a leaked document. However, no such formal review has taken place and the reference was in respect of a general question asked by some suppliers as to whether patient data in respect of the National Programme for IT (NPfIT) could be held abroad. It was subsequently confirmed to all suppliers that there was no change to the policy that NPfIT patient data should not be held or processed overseas. The guidance document concerned has been reissued with the reference removed but there is no 'review' documentation to publish.

Medical Records: Databases

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people he expects to have access to the entire content of the NHS Medical Records Database.

Ben Bradshaw: The security measures controlling access to national health service care records service clinical records are set at the Cabinet Office standard e-Government Interoperability Framework level 3, with access restricted to only those with a legitimate relationship with the patient, and further role-based access restrictions to specific information. It follows, therefore, that no one will have access to the entire content of the database.
	In exceptional circumstances, when required by law, specialist staff may, for example, be authorised to access records without there being a clinical relationship with the patient or patients concerned. Theoretically these staff could be authorised to access any individual record within the database, but all such access is for specific purposes and in tightly controlled circumstances.

Medical Records: Databases

Jeremy Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the provisions of section 10 of the Data Protection Act 1998 can be applied to the processing of data on any component of the national care records database; and whether this could include a patient requirement not to record clinical information on a database that can be accessed by users who are not directly involved in their care.

Ben Bradshaw: Requests made by patients under the provisions of section 10 of the Data Protection Act 1998 must be considered on a case by case basis. For section 10 to apply, the data in question must be personal identifiable data and processing must not be subject to a legal requirement or other exception set out in the Act. Patient contact details held as part of the National Health Service Care Records Service (NHS CRS) are subject to legal requirements so are exempt from the section 10 provisions. Clinical information held nationally is not exempt from the section 10 provisions, but this information can only be accessed by NHS CRS users directly involved in the patient's care.
	Information is added to the national system in a number of different ways, some by deliberate clinical decision and some by automated processes. In some cases local organisations able and willing to accede to a request under section 10 may be able to withhold information from record systems. In other cases the record is created as a consequence of the treatment or action that takes place, for example the creation of an x-ray image in the new digital picture recording systems, and a section 10 request could only be considered after the event. In the case of the summary care record, which is fed by both clinical decision and automated processes, patients may elect not to have a summary care record or to impose access controls upon it so that information is only shared either with their consent, when anonymised, or where required by law.

Medical Treatments Abroad

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the 526,700,000 in claims made against the UK in respect of European Economic Area (EEA) claims for medical treatment was claimed by each EEA member state in the year 2006-07.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table shows the claims for medical treatment made against the United Kingdom by other European Economic Area member states by country of claim.
	
		
			   EEA Healthcare Cost Claims 
			   Member states claims  against UK   000 
			 Austria 2,960,000 
			 Belgium 3,770,000 
			 Cyprus 11,370,000 
			 France 83,000,000 
			 Germany 5,630,000 
			 Greece 860,000 
			 Iceland 30,000 
			 Ireland 289,190,000 
			 Italy 5,480,000 
			 Netherlands 4,910,000 
			 Portugal 1,370,000 
			 Spain 117,450,000 
			 Sweden 680,000 
			   Note: Totals are rounded to nearest 10,000.

Medical Treatments Abroad: France

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will extend the E106s of British citizens currently living abroad in France, so they will not have to obtain private medical insurance to access healthcare following a change in French law.

Dawn Primarolo: Under European Union regulations if someone moves to another European Economic Area country to live they are entitled to health care paid for by the United Kingdom in the following circumstances only:
	they are in receipt of a UK state pension or other exportable benefit (an E121 will be issued by the UK)
	they are posted abroad by a UK employer and still pay tax and national insurance in the UK (an E106 will be issued by the UK).
	In addition the UK does under certain circumstances pay the health care costs for a limited period of those people who move abroad before they are in receipt of their pension. (An E106 will be issued by the UK). There are no plans to extend this entitlement.

Members: Correspondence

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member for Beaconsfield's letter of 30 July 2007 to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State responsible for Care Services on the SIGN charity in Beaconsfield constituency.

Ben Bradshaw: A reply was sent on 23 August 2007.

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support is available to employers to ensure patients with musculoskeletal disorders access early diagnosis and treatment to remain in work.

Ann Keen: We are not aware of any support available to employers to ensure patients with musculoskeletal disorders have access to early diagnosis and treatment to remain in work.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of primary care trusts' compliance with  (a) his Department's and  (b) the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's guidelines that three cycles of in vitro fertilisation should be provided to couples by the NHS.

Dawn Primarolo: In response to a survey carried out by the Department in autumn 2007, approximately one third of primary care trusts (PCTs) report that they are offering at least one fresh cycle of in vitro fertilisation to eligible patients, just over a third report one full cycle of fresh plus frozen embryos, and a third report two cycles or more. A very small number report a temporary suspension of the service. We are working with the patient support organisation Infertility Network UK to help PCTs share best practice in the provision of fertility services and move to the implementation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommendations. To build on the progress being made we are establishing an expert group to advise the project and consider how to help PCT commissioners.

NHS: Disclosure of Information

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what policies his Department has for making data collected by the NHS available to the pharmaceutical industry; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of these policies; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Any requests for national health service data from the pharmaceutical industry are treated in the same way as other requests from outside the NHS.

NHS: Finance

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in reviewing the impact of the market forces factor on  (a) the overall NHS funding formula and  (b) overall budgets of NHS trusts.

Ben Bradshaw: The Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA) continually oversees the development of the weighted capitation formula. ACRA's current work programme includes a review of the market forces factor (MFF). The review of the MFF will also inform the MFF adjustments made to providers of national health service services paid for through the national tariff.
	Although ACRA has made good progress on some major aspects of its work programme, it has requested, and been granted, additional time to finalise the work that it is doing to review the formula. Given the importance of the weighted capitation formula it is crucial that ACRA has the time required to produce a robust and transparent formula.
	Only when this work programme is completed will ACRA finalise its recommendations to Ministers on potential changes to the funding formula. Ministers will then look at all of ACRA's recommendations and decide how to take these recommendations into account when making allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs) for 2009-10 and 2010-11.
	We will inform providers and PCTs of the changes to the formula, and the revenue allocations as soon as is practically possible after the completion of ACRA's work programme. The aim is to announce revenue allocations to PCTs for 2009-10 and 2010-11 by the summer 2008. The MFF indices applied to providers of NHS services paid for by the national tariff were published on the Department's website on 13 December as part of the national tariff package for 2008-09, and are available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Organisationpolicy/Financeandplanning/NHSFinancialReforms/DH_081226

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what effect the recent renegotiation of the Connecting for Health contract with BT has had on the  (a) capital and  (b) revenue costs of the programme;
	(2)  what change there has been in the value of the Connecting for Health contract with BT following the recent renegotiation;
	(3)  if he will make available the details of the renegotiation of the Connecting for Health contract with each of the local service providers.

Ben Bradshaw: There has been no renegotiation of primary supplier contracts let by national health service Connecting for Health under the national programme for information technology, and no changes to their terms and conditions. There have, however, been 'resets' of the contracts. Reset is a normal, repeatable, process for contracts with a long lifetime to ensure that their ongoing delivery reflects progress to date, current priorities, and deployment plans for the future, and that they continue to support the evolving needs of the NHS. However, reset allows for the option of agreeing enhancements to existing services or functionality that does not effect a change in contract scope or risk allocation.
	In the course of the reset of the BT contract for London, new requirements and additional services were identified by the NHS, for which a separate business case and funding of 55 million41.8 million capital and 13.2 million revenueover the lifetime of the contract was subsequently approved. This does not represent an increase in the original cost of the contract for the original specification, but reflects new requirements for additional functionality.

NHS: KPMG

Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the report prepared by KPMG and paid for by NHS London and the acute hospital trusts in outer South East London which provides analysis of the financial viability of the four acute hospital trusts in outer South East London.

Ben Bradshaw: Currently officials within the Department are using the report in relation to current policy formulation and development.
	With this in mind we are currently applying section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act to the report as the information would be likely to inhibit free and frank provision of advice and the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberations.
	The results of this review process are being discussed with the strategic health authorities and solutions are being prepared in the context of the Operating Framework for 2008-09.

NHS: Private Finance Initiative

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department received from HM Treasury in respect of  (a) the planning and  (b) the delivery of each project undertaken under the private finance initiative.

Ben Bradshaw: HM Treasury regularly publishes guidance and reports on all aspects of the planning and delivery of private finance initiative (PFI) schemes in terms of evaluating business cases, ensuring value for money and developing standardised contract terms, which all Government Departments must follow. HM Treasury approval is required for all PFI business cases in the national health service exceeding 100 million.
	HM Treasury also worked specifically with this Department on developing and conducting the reappraisal of all major NHS PFI schemes in procurement launched in January 2006.

NHS: Property

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much revenue has been received since May 1997 from the sale of NHS property.

Ben Bradshaw: Details of national health service property sales are not held centrally. However, the information in the following table shows receipts from the sale of fixed assets including dwellings, plant and machinery, transport equipment, information technology, land, buildings and furniture and fittings during the period requested.
	
		
			Receipts from all fixed assets (000) 
			 1997-98 252,795 
			 1998-99 191,380 
			 1999-2000 290,961 
			 2000-01 390,869 
			 2001-02 766,411 
			 2002-03 1,078,294 
			 2003-04 397,975 
			 2004-05 455,625 
			 2005-06 440,360 
			 2006-07 575,873 
		
	
	This information is collected on the cash receipts from the sale of fixed assets by the NHS through their annual audited summarisation schedules. The table does not include sales by NHS foundation trusts. Receipts include sales to other NHS organisations as well as to the private sector. Funds released from the disposal of fixed assets are capital in nature, and are therefore generally reinvested in local capital schemes.

NHS: Public Participation

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what account was taken of rurality in establishing the level of funding provided to each local authority to set up and run local involvement networks;
	(2)  what criteria were used to establish the level of funding provided to each local authority to set up and run local involvement networks.

Ann Keen: The allocations made to local authorities (LAs) to support the establishment of local involvement networks were based on two elements: a general baseline payment to all LAs with the rest allocated according to the relative needs formula.
	The first element allocates a basic amount of 60,000 to each LA.
	The remainder of the available funding is allocated according to the social care relative needs formulae. These are mathematical formulae designed to allocate funding for relevant services between LAs according to the needs of each LA relative to other LAs. They are a rigorously developed and accepted method of allocating funds to LAs (and are recognised by key organisations such as the Local Government Association). There are separate formulae for older people, younger adults and children. The formulae take into account the population in the LA area and other key factors. The older people's formula consists of a basic amount per person aged 65 and over and top-ups for age, deprivation, sparsity, low income from fees and charges, and area costs. The younger adult's formula consists of a basic amount per person aged 18-64 and top-ups for deprivation and area costs. The children's formula consists of a basic amount per child aged 0-17 and top-ups for deprivation, foster costs and area costs.

NHS: Standards

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing the recommendations of Lord Darzi's report; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Proposals for the provision of services are a matter for the national health service, working in conjunction with clinicians, patients and other stakeholders.
	The projected costs of implementing the proposed models of care in London have been provided in the consultation document 'Healthcare for London: consulting the capital'. These are estimated forecasts which are dependent on many factors over the next few years, such as demand on services, population growth, and the continued increase in the health care budget.

NHS: Telephone Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which  (a) organisations and  (b) individuals his Department intends to consult on the possibility of introducing a new three-digit number for urgent care services, as stated in his Department's NHS next stage review interim report, Our NHS, Our Future;
	(2)  how the NHS Next Stage Review will take forward the exploration of the possibility of introducing a single three-digit number for urgent care services, as described on page four of his Department's document Urgent care update: Key areas highlighted by the Direction of Travel consultation and other work;
	(3)  whether a new three-digit number for urgent care services, as referred to in his Department's NHS next stage review interim report, Our NHS, Our Future, will be delivered through NHS Direct.

Ben Bradshaw: As part of the national health service next stage review, local clinical pathway groups are considering ways to improve the public's understanding of how to access urgent care services. As the interim report of the review, published on 4 October, made clear, there may be benefit in adopting a three-digit number as a single point of access to urgent care. Various options are being considered.
	The NHS Direct telephone advice service, which currently operates on 0845 4647, will shortly have to change its number. While it could move to an 03 number, we have had a preliminary discussion with Ofcom about the possibility of securing a three-digit number for NHS Direct. Any proposal would need to follow Ofcom's normal process for consultation with the public.

Postal Services

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many items of post sent by his Department were reported missing by the intended recipient in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Department's procedures will be made on completion of the review.

Psychiatry: Standards

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to promote understanding by general practitioners of the role of the therapeutic relationship in talking therapies.

Ann Keen: The educational and training curricula of general practitioners, including the therapeutic relationship in psychological therapies, is set and managed by the Royal College of General Practitioners, not by the Department.
	Post-registration training needs for national health service staff are determined against local NHS priorities, through appraisal processes and training needs analyses informed by local delivery plans and the needs of the service. Services are delivered at a local level, with funding for continuing professional development, including training in new therapies, included as part of the baseline allocation to strategic health authorities (SHAs).
	Subject to the Multi-Professional Education and Training Levy Service Level Agreement, it is for each SHA to decide how to allocate this funding against their work force planning strategies.

Psychiatry: Standards

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what standards of  (a) self-development and  (b) qualifications psychological therapists will be required to meet under the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme.

Ivan Lewis: Therapists delivering evidence-based psychological therapies will be required to reach different standards depending on the level of the therapy given and their prior experience. Those delivering high intensity interventions will be expected to reach the standard of a post-graduate qualification.
	Therapists will receive supervision during and after training to develop and maintain their skills. The Department is undertaking work to specify the competencies for supervision and the training required to develop and implement the professional development required to deliver evidence-based psychological therapies.

Radiotherapy

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which areas of the country additional radiotherapy equipment will be needed as stated in paragraph 4.27 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy.

Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally.
	The need for additional radiotherapy equipment was recognised as an area for development in the National Radiotherapy Advisory Group report, which recommended that 54,000 fractions per million of population by 2016 and that the current average was around 30,000 fractions with a range between 17,000-48,000 per million between networks.
	It is for local determination whether additional equipment is needed or services are reconfigured to ensure that the network meets this recommendation by 2016.

Screening: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been allocated to increase NHS provision of preventative screening in each of the next three financial years; and how much will be spent on each type of screening.

Dawn Primarolo: Detailed spending decisions are a matter for the local national health service.
	Money will be allocated for the delivery of those policy commitments including the 3 million already announced.

Smoking: Prescription Drugs

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on adverse reactions to the anti-smoking prescription drug Champix.

Dawn Primarolo: Varenicline (Champix) was first launched in the United Kingdom in December 2006 as a stop-smoking aid for adults. Since that time its safety has been monitored closely by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in conjunction with the European Medicines Agency.
	To date over 1,400 reports of suspected adverse reactions have been received via the yellow card scheme in the UK. The reactions most commonly reported through the yellow card scheme are recognised side effects and are listed in the product information. The most commonly reported side effects are nausea, depression/depressed mood, headache, vomiting, and dizziness. It is important to note that the suspected reactions are not necessarily caused by the drug and may relate to other factors such as nicotine withdrawal, other illnesses or other medicines taken concurrently.
	Recently concerns have arisen about reports of depression including suicidal thoughts and behaviour reported in association with the use of varenicline. These data have prompted a Europe wide review of this issue and careful consideration of the available data. Following the most recent consideration the varenicline product information for doctors and the Patient Information Leaflet is being updated to contain warnings that depression has been reported in patients who are trying to stop smoking using varenicline and that the symptoms of this depression may include suicidal thoughts and behaviour. In December 2007, information was posted on the MHRA website regarding this issue. Suicidal behaviour associated with the use of varenicline remains under close review in the UK and within Europe.

Tinnitus: Research

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by the NHS on research into tinnitus in 2007.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State (Alan Johnson) to my hon. Friend the Member for North-West Leicestershire (David Taylor) on 12 September 2007,  Official Report, column 2084W.

Tomography

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) computerised tomography scanners,  (b) magnetic resonance imaging scanners,  (c) linear accelerators and  (d) positron emission tomography scanners have been available for use in the NHS in each year since 2000.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not collect this data centrally. Such data as are available from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is shown in the following table. Data for positron emission tomography scanners are unavailable.
	
		
			   Modality   Installed base at January 2000   Installed base November 2007 
			 Computerised Tomography 285 395 
			 Magnetic Resonance Imaging 182 285 
			 Linear accelerators 152 243

Tomography

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) endoscopies,  (b) non-obstetric ultrasound tests,  (c) computerised tomography scans and  (d) magnetic resonance imaging scans took place in the NHS in each year since 1997-98.

Ann Keen: Such information as is available is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Total number of endoscopies, CT, MRI and non-obstetric ultrasound tests, England, 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			Endoscopy
			Gastroscopy   Colonoscopy   Flexible and rigid sigmoidoscopy   Cystoscopy   Computer tomography (CT)   Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)   Non-obstetric ultrasound 
			 1997-98 1,172,656 473,074 2,884,883 
			 1998-99 1,254,474 522,138 3,068,276 
			 1999-2000 1,359,852 585,797 3,289,919 
			 2000-01 1,488,752 632,594 3,430,753 
			 2001-02 1,625,304 705,706 3,579,412 
			 2002-03 522,186 188,584 173,140 347,412 1,767,791 786,646 3,626,903 
			 2003-04 508,992 195,713 172,553 341,603 1,992,826 857,550 3,881,945 
			 2004-05 488,143 203,165 175,017 331,898 2,141,652 944,935 3,949,303 
			 2005-06 505,025 234,152 198,085 356,507 2,481,571 1,118,487 4,253,361 
			 2006-07 537,835 272,715 211,343 366,677 2,728,119 1,257,972 4,461,490 
			   Note: This only includes endoscopies performed as inpatients.   Source: Department of Health form KH12 (for CT, MRI and ultrasound) Hospital Episode Statistics for Endoscopy.

Urological Cancers

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the progress made by cancer networks in implementing the Improving Outcomes Guidance for Urological Cancers; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The majority of cancer networks are expected to have fully implemented the Improving Outcomes Guidance by the end of December 2007. We will assess the exact position early this year.
	In addition, the report of the 2004-07 round of cancer peer review will be published early this year. This will include information on how cancer networks were progressing with this Improving Outcomes Guidance at the time of the peer review visits.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Drugs Misuse

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will liaise with the Secretary of State for Health to develop a strategy to combat the misuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

Vernon Coaker: The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an Executive agency of the Department of Health, and is responsible for monitoring the safety of all medicines in the UK, including concerns about misuse, and takes suitable action to safeguard public health when necessary.

Drugs Misuse

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to combat drug misuse among young people.

Vernon Coaker: We have a comprehensive programme of action under way to prevent today's young people from becoming tomorrow's drug users, through:
	tackling the supply of drugs;
	delivery of high quality drug education and information to young people and their families; and
	early intervention and treatment for those young people most at risk.

Prostitution

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of organisations which help women to exit prostitution.

Vernon Coaker: We have not made any formal assessment of the effectiveness of organisations which help women to exit prostitution, but we will be evaluating the implementation of the Government's prostitution strategy in local areas in the near future.
	Developing routes out is a key element of our strategy, which provides a framework for local areas to develop their own strategies including the provision of tailored support for those involved in prostitution.

Biometric Visas

Chris Mole: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make a statement on the timetable for the introduction of biometric visas for people travelling to the UK.

Liam Byrne: Our target to introduce fingerprint visas by April 2008 has been met. This has been achieved ahead of time and under budget. All applicants for a UK visa are now required to provide their fingerprints.

Human Trafficking

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of when the UK will be in a position to ratify the Council of Europe convention against trafficking in human beings.

Vernon Coaker: We will ratify the Convention as soon as possible. This will be subject to the necessary domestic legislation being in place in all parts of the UK to ensure we can fully comply with the Convention.

Police Priorities

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the impact of targets on police priorities.

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the impact of targets on police priorities.

Tony McNulty: In setting our new public service agreements (published on 9 October last year) we have, as always, taken account of feedback from the police and others. The new objectives and the supporting performance framework have been designed to promote local flexibility while ensuring that the most harmful issues, like tackling more serious violent crime, are given the priority they deserve.

Data Loss

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her latest estimate is of the number of accidental data loss in her Department in the last 12 months.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the review being undertaken by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts into procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. I also refer the hon. Member to the statement of 17 December by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on measures to improve the security of personal data.
	As a result of this interim report, and in common with all departments, the Home Office will cover information assurance, including material on potential breaches, in its annual report.

Points-based Migration

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on her plans to introduce a points-based system for migrant workers; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: The points-based system is on track to start in early Spring. Initially it will apply to highly skilled migrants who contribute significantly to the growth and productivity of the UK economy. When fully implemented it will reduce routes of entry to the UK from over 60 to five.

Neighbourhood Policing

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of neighbourhood policing.

Lynda Waltho: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of neighbourhood policing schemes; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The joint HMIC and Home Office Police Performance Assessment of the implementation of neighbourhood policing for 2006-07 awarded six forces an excellent grade and recognised 12 other forces as having improved on the previous year.
	The Home Office is also conducting an evaluation of neighbourhood policing which is scheduled to end in March 2009 but a report of early findings will be published in the first half of 2008.

Gun Crime

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the steps taken by the Government to reduce gun crime since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: We have made significant progress in efforts to reduce gun crime since 1997. We have increased enforcement operations, introduced tougher legislation and given more powers to the police and courts to deal with offenders. We are also empowering communities to take local action against guns and criminal gangs.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of anti-social behaviour orders; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Three independent reports have confirmed our approach to tackling anti-social behaviour is workingHome Affairs Select Committee (2005), Audit Commission (2006), NAO (2006).
	The NAO Report found that:
	65 per cent. of people desisted from ASB after one intervention
	85 per cent. after two
	and 93 per cent. after three
	We have also appointed IPSOS Mori to undertake a qualitative study investigating the circumstances in which different antisocial behaviour interventions are most effective. Antisocial behaviour orders are just one of these. This research is due to be published later this year.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women have been served with an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) for prostitution-related activities; and how many women have been sent to prison for breach of such an ASBO.

Vernon Coaker: Data are not collected centrally about the behaviour leading up to the granting of an antisocial behaviour order.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in each  (a) police authority area and  (b) criminal justice system area; how many of these have been breached; how many people received a custodial sentence for such a breach; and how many people have been taken to court for a breach.

Vernon Coaker: Police force areas and criminal justice system areas are co-terminous. Data showing the number of antisocial behaviour orders issued and breached broken down by criminal justice area are shown in the following table. Unfortunately, data on the number of orders incurring a custodial sentence for a breach; and how many people have been taken to court for a breach, are not available broken down by area. The breach rate nationally is 47 per cent. overall with 57 per cent. for juveniles and 41 per cent. for adults.
	
		
			   Number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued, breached and breaches subsequently receiving a custodial sentence as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service, 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2005 
			Number of ASBOs 
			   CJS area   I  ssued   B  reached(  1) 
			 Avon and Somerset 213 103 
			 Bedfordshire 82 32 
			 Cambridgeshire 96 34 
			 Cheshire 208 90 
			 Cleveland 115 74 
			 Cumbria 115 68 
			 Derbyshire 125 51 
			 Devon and Cornwall 177 53 
			 Dorset 77 51 
			 Durham 96 71 
			 Dyfed Powys 35 16 
			 Essex 149 81 
			 Gloucestershire 68 41 
			 Greater London 1,163 463 
			 Greater Manchester 1,227 686 
			 Gwent 72 46 
			 Hampshire 272 133 
			 Hertfordshire 145 54 
			 Humberside 236 100 
			 Kent(2) 159 22 
			 Lancashire 357 176 
			 Leicestershire 120 59 
			 Lincolnshire 43 21 
			 Merseyside 300 136 
			 Norfolk 117 45 
			 Northamptonshire(2) 84 9 
			 Northumbria 302 131 
			 North Wales 168 77 
			 North Yorkshire 91 41 
			 Nottinghamshire 255 109 
			 South Wales 147 59 
			 South Yorkshire 245 132 
			 Staffordshire 170 67 
			 Suffolk 165 65 
			 Surrey 110 48 
			 Sussex 245 121 
			 Thames Valley 162 70 
			 Warwickshire 87 48 
			 West Mercia 231 103 
			 West Midlands 776 373 
			 West Yorkshire 692 384 
			 Wiltshire 52 25 
			
			 England and Wales 9,749 4,568 
			 (1) ASBOs may be issued in one area and breached in another. Breaches are counted in this table on the area of ISSUE. (2) Breach data from the magistrates court administrative systems in Kent and Northamptonshire are known to have been under-reported.   Notes: 1. On the occasion of the severest sentence received. Custodial sentences for breaching an ASBO may have been given concurrently with custodial sentences for other offences for which the person was found guilty. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces.  As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Sources: IssuedAs reported to the Home Office by the Court Service. BreachedOCJR Court Proceedings Database.

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics her Department collates on alcohol-related crime in  (a) England and  (b) each local authority area.

Vernon Coaker: The British Crime Survey collects information on the number and proportion of violent incidents where the victim believed the offender to be under the influence of alcohol. While these statistics are published for England and Wales as a whole they are not available at local authority area level.
	The Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales on an offenders basis. These data include information on the age of the defendants, their gender, the police force area and court where proceedings took place as well as the specific offence and statute for the offence. Alcohol offence categories collected include offences of drunkenness with and without aggravation and offences under the licensing acts. The court proceedings database does not hold specific information on offences beyond descriptions provided by the statutes under which prosecutions are brought. For example information on prosecutions for the offences of 'violent disorder' cannot identify which offences involved alcohol use.
	The Home Office is also leading an evaluation of the Licensing Act 2003 on levels of crime and disorder, using a range of measures and statistics at both a national and local level. It is planned to publish the results from this evaluation in the spring.
	To complement the findings of the main report, a monitoring exercise was carried out to get an indication of the change in police recorded crime statistics following the introduction of the Act. The results of this exercise were published in 'Violent crime, disorder and criminal damage since the introduction of the Licensing Act 2003', Home Office Online Report 16/07. A copy is available at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/rdsolr1607.pdf
	No statistics on alcohol-related crime are available from the police recorded crime statistics. Such offences are not specifically defined by statute and details of the individual circumstances of offences do not feature in the recorded crime data series.

Animal Experiments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the potential for adverse physical and psychological effects, other than those included in the Guidance Notes to Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, to be experienced by animals for each of the severity bandings used to classify scientific procedures on animals; how often the procedures that fall within these bandings are reviewed; and when the last revision took place.

Meg Hillier: holding answer 8 January 2008
	Severity of suffering is classified in four categories: unclassified, mild, moderate or substantial. Sections 5.40 to 5.49 of the Home Office Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (HC321) explain how these levels are assigned and provide examples of some of the adverse effects they may entail. The current guidance was published in March 2000 following a review of earlier guidance published in February 1990. At present, we have no plans to review the guidance as a whole or to expand on the examples provided in respect of severity limits.
	The severity of suffering authorised in project licences is reviewed by inspectors during visits of inspection and in discussion with licensees. Severity is also reviewed by inspectors when amendments to existing protocols are considered. In addition, a standard condition of issue requires that project licence holders report to the Secretary of State if the severity limit of a protocol appears to have been or is likely to be breached, at which point the severity of the protocol is also reviewed. One of the duties of local ethical review processes in designated establishments is also to ensure that severity is minimised throughout the duration of project licences.

Animal Housing: Security

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance police provide to kennels on measures to be taken to protect kennels against the risk of attacks from the public and organisations wishing to prevent injured strays being put down.

Tony McNulty: All police forces will give crime prevention advice through crime reduction officers to members of the public seeking assistance. This includes advice to owners of kennels who may be subject to threats of attacks from the public or organisations. In addition forces also employ officers with a specialist knowledge of domestic extremism who can provide advice on dealing with the unwelcome attention of extremist groups. They in turn have access to advice from specialist national police units such as the National Extremism Tactical Co-Ordination Unit which was set up to provide a consistent response to domestic extremism across the country.
	The Government are clear that threats of attacks on individuals and businesses are unacceptable. The Government fully support a person's right to protest lawfully about activities they oppose, but is equally clear that people also have a right to be free to carry out their lawful business without fear of intimidation and violence. We therefore condemn individuals or organisations who are prepared to resort to criminal action to deliver their message.

Asylum

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of asylum seekers who have exhausted all avenues of appeals in England in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: Information on asylum decisions and appeals relating to asylum seekers in particular areas of the UK is not available since applications are for asylum in the UK and not any particular part of it (and we do not generally require asylum seekers to reside in a particular location). Also, asylum seekers can leave the UK voluntarily at any time and some do so without informing the authorities.
	Information on appeal rights exhausted is published annually; information prior to 2003 is not available. Copies of these publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Asylum

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will consider a system of pre-paid cards for asylum seekers as an alternative to the existing vouchers.

Liam Byrne: Destitute asylum seekers who have been assessed as eligible for asylum support receive cash on a weekly basis by presenting their application registration card at a nominated post office.
	Those refused asylum whose appeal rights are exhausted and who are unable to leave the UK immediately due to circumstances beyond their control may receive support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (IAA 1999). Section 4 support comprises self-catering accommodation with vouchers to purchase food and essential toiletries.
	There are no plans to change these arrangements.

Asylum

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) asylum seekers and  (b) dependants of asylum seekers have been given leave to remain in the UK in each year since 1997, broken down by type of leave granted.

Liam Byrne: Information on the annual number of asylum seekers and dependants of asylum seekers given leave to enter is available from the annual Statistical Bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom. Copies of these publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum: Newcastle

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contractual commitments for units of accommodation the Border and Immigration Agency has with  (a) Your Homes Newcastle and  (b) other accommodation providers in Newcastle; and how much notice is required before that figure can be altered.

Liam Byrne: The Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) have three regional accommodation contracts providing accommodation for asylum seekers in Newcastle; two with the private sector (Kimberley Housing Group and Angel London Ltd.), and one with the public sector (North East Contract Consortium for Asylum Support). BIA does not have any contractual arrangements with Your Homes Newcastle.
	The three contracts BIA has with providers in the North East contain minimum and maximum volume capacities which can be renegotiated at any time. The information is not made public due to commercial confidentiality.

Asylum: Sudan

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Sudanese Embassy officials have conducted interviews in the UK with Sudanese asylum seekers whose appeal rights have not been exhausted or who have made a fresh claim; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: We take great care to protect individuals who pass through our asylum system and have confidence in the quality of our decision making process. We have a clear policy that external Governments do not become involved in the re-documentation process until decisions have been made on cases. Removal of the individual should take place only once appeal rights have been exhausted and there are no other barriers to their removal.

Burglary: Schools

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many burglaries were committed on school premises in 2006; and what proportion involved theft of IT equipment.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not available centrally. Burglaries on school premises are recorded under the Home Office offence classification of 'Burglary in a building other than a dwelling'. As such they cannot be separately identified from other offences recorded within this classification e.g. burglaries in factories or warehouses.

Community Policing: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community police support staff have been in post in Romford since 2003; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Figures collected centrally relate to police community support officers (PCSOs) in the London borough of Havering since 2005. The Home Office started collecting PCSO data below police force level at this time, and these local area data relate to police basic command units (BCUs). Romford is part of the London borough of Havering BCU.
	The figures appear in the following table.
	
		
			   Numbers of police community support officers in the London borough of Havering: 2005-07 
			Police community support officers (FTE)(  1) 
			 30 June 2005 (2)41 
			 30 June 2006 (2)47 
			 31 March 2007 83 
			 (1) All figures are full-time equivalents (FTE) rounded to the nearest whole number.   Note: Figures may not be directly comparable to the 2007 figure in the table, which is part of the Home Office's regular police personnel collection.

Control of Immigration Statistics 2006

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will break down by sub-category the Other category in Table 5.6, Grant of Settlement by main category and geographic region of nationality 1996-2006 of the Control of Immigration Statistics 2006; and what assessment she has made of the factors underlying the increase in this category since 1997.

Liam Byrne: A more detailed breakdown of settlement grants by category can be found in Table 5.3 in the Command Paper Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2006. This publication may be obtained from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	The significant rise in grants in the Other category mainly reflects a rise in grants of settlement to recognised refugees and persons granted exceptional leave to remain, including grants under measures aimed at reducing the backlog of pre-1993 asylum applications and grants due to the Family Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) exercise.

Departmental Consultants

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contracts her Department has with external consultants; what the total value, including all VAT and disbursements, of these contracts are for the current financial year; how long each contract lasts; and what the forecast total value is of each contract.

Liam Byrne: The Home Department engages consultancy firms to support and augment civil servants in the delivery of a specific range of work, including large IT development programmes and, where more cost-effective, longer term service delivery programmes.
	The Department's expenditure on these services is allocated across a wide range of firms, from small, specialist companies with niche expertise and few employees, to global multinational organisations offering a broad spectrum and substantial depth of consultancy expertise.
	The Department awards contracts in competition according to the EU procurement directives based on value for money. The Department uses OGC framework agreements where appropriate. The use of external consultants provides the Department with specialist knowledge, skill, capacity and technical expertise that would not otherwise be available. Some expenditure is on consultants to whom we have outsourced services, such as IT.
	The Department does not hold a central record of individual contracts with external consultants showing the level of detail requested. Only spend figures are held centrally. To assemble the requested details from individual records would incur disproportionate cost. The Department is able to provide the information set out as follows.
	The information held by the Home Department on the total value of spend on consultancy and professional legal services from April to September and the forecasted total value for the current financial year is as follows:
	
		
			million 
			Home Office including Border and Immigration Agency   Identity and Passport Service   Total 
			   April to September financial year 2007-08 spend
			 Consultancy 35 7.6 42.6 
			 Legal 11 0 11 
			 Total 46 7.6 53.6 
			 
			   Full financial year 2007-08 forecast
			 Consultancy 100 20.3 120.3 
			 Legal 20 0 20 
			 Total 120 20.3 140.3 
			   Note: Figures include non-recoverable VAT and disbursements. 
		
	
	The information held by the Home Department on the total spend on the top, by spend, eight major suppliers of consultancy services from April to September of the current financial year is as follows:
	
		
			   April to   September financial year   2007-08 spend
			 PA Consulting Services Ltd. 7,163,806 
			 COI Communications 5,592,649 
			 Deloitte and Touche 5,053,946 
			 Fujitsu Services Ltd. 2,251,713 
			 Detica Ltd. 1,739,042 
			 Oracle Corporation UK Ltd. 1,650,161 
			 Walker-Cox Ltd. 1,246,376 
			 KPMG LLP 1,084,747

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff employed by her Department during the last 12 months have not been entitled to work in the United Kingdom.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 19 November 2007
	 I informed the House17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 966Wthat, as a result of prioritised enforcement action undertaken by the Border and Immigration Agency with respect to the Security Industry, one member of staff employed by a sub-contractor providing services to the Department was identified as not having the right to work within the United Kingdom. This person was immediately detained and has since been deported.
	As a result of this discovery, the permanent secretary ordered a review of the immigration status and entitlement to work in the United Kingdom of over 30,000 people employed by and contracted to the Department.
	This review will be completed by the end of February 2008.

Deportation

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to the answer of 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 951W, on deportation, how many of the 72,550 asylum applicants removed from the UK between April 2003 and September 2007 were  (a) enforced removals,  (b) persons refused entry at port within the UK and subsequently removed,  (c) persons refused entry outside the UK at juxtaposed controls,  (d) persons leaving voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them,  (e) persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration and  (f) persons otherwise voluntarily leaving the UK.

Liam Byrne: Between April 2003 and September 2007, 72,550 asylum applicants, including dependants, were removed, including voluntary departures. Of these, 42,325 were removed as a result of enforcement action (including voluntary departures and persons leaving voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them), 14,495 were refused entry at port and subsequently removed (including cases dealt with at juxtaposed controls), and 15,730 departed under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organization for Migration. These data have been rounded to the nearest five and may not sum to the overall total due to independent rounding.
	These figures include management information on the breakdown of dependants of asylum applicants removed in 2003. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols and should be treated as provisional.

Deportation: Overseas Students

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions have been given to immigration officers on the deportation of students who overstay their visas; what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of enforcement measures in respect of student overstayers; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: A person who stays in the United Kingdom (UK) beyond the time limit specified by his/her leave, an overstayer, is liable to administrative removal under section 10 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. The Operational Enforcement Manual (OEM) provides guidance and information for officers dealing with enforcement (after entry) immigration matters. Chapters 10 and 11 of the OEM specifically deal with persons liable to administrative removal under section 10 and administrative removal procedures respectively.
	A copy of the OEM is available to view in the House Library and on the Border and Immigration Agency website at:
	http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/oem/oemsectionb/
	Intelligence-led operations are conducted every day of the week across the country to detect and remove those people who have breached UK immigration laws and in 2006 we removed over 63,000 people altogether, including amongst others failed asylum seekers and overstayers.

Driving Offences: Surveillance

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to use the photographs taken by surveillance cameras to  (a) detect and  (b) prosecute those seen committing an offence under (i) section 14 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and (ii) the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No.4) Regulations 2003; what recent representations she has received on the issue; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: How the offences are enforced and what evidence it is helpful and appropriate to put forward are matters for the police and the prosecuting authorities.
	Failure to wear a seat-belt is recognised in the national Roads Policing Strategy as one of the key behaviours contributing to road casualties and there is a specific commitment to address it. We recognised the danger inherent in using a mobile phone while driving by increasing the penalty for the offence in the Road Safety Act 2006. This is a matter on which we regularly receive correspondence.

Entry Clearances

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what percentage of decisions on applications for  (a) extension of stay and  (b) indefinite leave to remain were made within 13 weeks in each year since 2001;
	(2)  how many  (a) applications for and  (b) decisions on (i) extension of stay and (ii) indefinite leave to remain there were in each year since 2001.

Liam Byrne: Service standards were introduced during 2004. Charged and non-charged turnaround performance for 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 is published on the BIA website under making an applicationservice standards.
	The requested statistics on decisions on (i) extension of stay and (ii) indefinite leave to remain (settlement) are shown in the following table.
	This information is published annually in the yearly Command Paper Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom. This publication may be obtained from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		
			   Table 4.2 Decisions on applications for an extension of leave to remain(  1)   in the United Kingdom and settlement, by category, excluding EEA(  2)   and Swiss Nationals, 2001-06 
			   United Kingdom 
			Number of decisions 
			   Category   2001   2002   2003(  3)   2004(  2)   2005(  7)   2006(  8) 
			 All decisions, excluding dependants 277,375 337,650 485,860 383,470 386,565 393,650 
			 Visitors 14,695 15,355 15,740 12,870 10,450 7,695 
			 Working holidaymakers 1,340 2,700 500 490 245 70 
			 Students 90,115 128,400 190,215 156,110 136,525 142,115 
			 Trainees 8,270 7,960 10,760 12,540 10,885 2,765 
			 Au Pairs 495 360 365 225 220 230 
			 Work permit holders 44,025 54,865 79,300 60,370 68,980 52,860 
			 Permit free employment(4) 6,015 7,415 11,470 15,400 27,290 41,915 
			 Independent means 35 10 20 5 10 25 
			 Business(5) 5,580 10,715 25,860 17,510 2,715 10,360 
			 Fianc(e)s 85 100 150 120 95 130 
			 Spouse (probationary period applications)(6) 24,910 19,235 25,030 19,070 18,020 21,450 
			 Other limited leave 6,915 10,470 15,730 11,595 8,365 12,020 
			 Settlement 74,900 78,935 106,110 70,975 96,270 96,480 
			 Category Unknown n/a 1,140 4,610 6,185 6,490 5,530 
		
	
	
		
			Percentage refused 
			   Category   2001   2002   2003   2004(  2,7)   2005(  7)   2006(  8) 
			 All decisions, excluding dependants 5.6 5.5 6.8 8.1 8.6 7.2 
			 Visitors 11.1 8.4 10.9 10.0 9.3 9.6 
			 Working holidaymakers 6.1 2.6 19.7 21.1 54.3 50.7 
			 Students 7.7 5.3 2.9 4.3 7.0 5.5 
			 Trainees 1.3 0.6 0.5 0.7 1.0 4.1 
			 Au Pairs 35.1 45.4 63.8 27.1 18.7 12.6 
			 Work permit holders 1.8 3.1 7.5 8.7 10.6 4.2 
			 Permit free employment(4) 2.9 10.7 9.9 7.6 4.5 2.6 
			 Independent means 42.4 66.7 76.2 60.0 25.0 11.1 
			 Business(5) 5.6 7.8 4.1 12.5 47.3 19.7 
			 Fianc(e)s 22.4 22.4 20.1 21.3 17.9 14.7 
			 Spouse (probationary period applications)(6) 7.4 3.8 9.8 9.9 7.0 5.1 
			 Other limited leave 17.9 16.5 31.2 22.9 23.4 17.0 
			 Settlement 2.9 5.4 9.1 9.2 6.5 8.7 
			 Category Unknown n/a 15.7 8.2 52.7 51.6 51.6 
			 n/a not applicable. (1) Excludes dependants of principal applicants, asylum related decisions and withdrawn applications. (2) Includes nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia before 1 May 2004, but excludes them from this date. (3) Excludes the outcome of appeals. (4) Includes writers and artists. (5) Includes investors and innovators. (6) Includes unmarried partners. (7) Revised. (8) Provisional.

Entry Clearances

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the letter of 17 December 2007 from the chief executive of the Border and Immigration Agency to the Home Affairs Committee, when the criteria used to determine the grant of leave to remain to foreign nationals was adopted; and what means were used to publicise them.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 10 January 2008
	 All decisions are made on a case by case basis under existing law and policy. The Border and Immigration Agency's website provides details of the policy and guidance that staff follow. We publish this information as part of our commitment to freedom of information.

Entry Clearances: Employment

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to the answer of 11 December 2007,  Official Report, column 481W, on entry clearances: employment, how many non-EU citizens have obtained leave to  (a) remain and  (b) enter the UK under the categories of (i) the International Graduate Scheme, (ii) Innovator, (iii) working and the (iv) Gap Year Students Highly Skilled Migrant Programme in each year since the scheme began.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 18 December 2007
	The following table shows the number approvals of leave to remain and leave to enter the UK for overseas nationals under the categories of the International Graduate Scheme, Innovator, Working Holiday Maker, Work Permits, Gap Year Students and Highly Skilled Migrant Programme for each year for which data are available.
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
	
		
			Leave to enterout of country   Leave to remainin country   Grand total 
			   Gap year entrant 
			 2004 415 20 435 
			 2005 795 45 840 
			 2006 810 35 845 
			 2007 to November 2007 685 20 705 
			 Grand total 2,705 120 2,825 
			 
			   Working holiday maker 
			 2003 54,140 n/a  
			 2004 70,275 20 70,295 
			 2005 58,420 45 58,465 
			 2006 46,160 35 46,195 
			 2007 to November 2007 37,595 20 37,615 
			 Grand total 212,450 120 212,570 
			 
			   Innovator applications approvals 
			 2003 20 n/a 20 
			 2004 15 20 35 
			 2005 10 45 55 
			 2006 10 35 45 
			 2007 to November 2007 5 20 25 
			 Grand total 60 120 180 
			 
			   International graduate scheme(  1) 
			 2007 to November 2007 510 8,200 8,710 
		
	
	
		
			   HSMP applications approvals 
			Approval entry clearance   Approval leave to remain   Grand total 
			 2002  135 135 
			 2003 1,340 765 2,105 
			 2004 3,240 2,265 5,505 
			 2005 6,510 6,715 13,225 
			 2006 7,840 14,095 21,935 
			 2007 9,195 6,255 15,450 
			 Grand total 28,125 30,235 58,360 
		
	
	
		
			   Work permits approvals(  2) 
			Entry clearance   Granted leave to remain   Grand total 
			 1995 n/a n/a  
			 1996 n/a n/a  
			 1997 n/a n/a  
			 1998 n/a n/a  
			 1999 n/a n/a  
			 2000 n/a n/a  
			 2001 n/a n/a  
			 2002 n/a 45,125 45,125 
			 2003 32,240 71,160 103,400 
			 2004 53,860 50,645 104,505 
			 2005 63,340 52,655 115,995 
			 2006 71,870 36,050 107,920 
			 2007 to November 2007 62,915 28,555 91,470 
			 Total 284,225 946,875 1,231,100 
			 (1) Scheme started in May 2007. (2) Including members of groups.   Notes: 1. The data in this publication are based on Management Information, are provisional and may be subject to change. 2. The data are not National Statistics. 3. Figures are rounded to nearest five. 4. Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown.

Entry Clearances: Iraq

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi  (a) interpreters and  (b) other employees of the British armed forces have been granted admission to the UK.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 27 November 2007
	 No Iraqi interpreters or other employees of the British armed forces have yet been granted admission to the UK under the scheme of assistance for locally engaged Iraqi staff that was announced by the Prime Minister on 8 October, and which was outlined in more detail by the Foreign Secretary in his written ministerial statement of 30 October. Employing Departments are in the process of confirming eligibility for the scheme from those applicants who have expressed an interest and we are working to ensure suitable reception arrangements are in place for their arrival. We anticipate the first admissions to the UK will take place in late January.
	Information on how many interpreters or other employees of the British forces have been granted admission to the UK outside this scheme is only available at disproportionate cost.

Frontiers: Northern Ireland

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether there are plans to establish border controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland;
	(2)  what contribution the Irish government makes to the Common Travel Area.

Liam Byrne: There are no fixed controls on either side of the land border and there is no intention of introducing such controls in the future for political and practical reasons.
	Since 1997, Ireland has maintained an immigration control on non-CTA nationals arriving directly from the UK by air and sea. British and Irish passengers are only required to show an acceptable form of photo-identification to prove their nationality and exempt them from immigration control. Irish Garda National Immigration Bureau work collaboratively with UK border agencies and run regular intelligence-led operations to counter immigration risks to the intra CTA borders. These joint operations have successfully prevented non-CTA nationals attempting to cross the boundary illegally in both directions.

Frontiers: Security

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the implications are of an e-borders system circumscribing Great Britain for travel between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland; and what documents will be required under the proposed e-border system for travel between Britain and Northern Ireland.

Liam Byrne: The police service already screens passengers travelling between Northern Ireland and the mainland and there are no plans to introduce passport controls for those travelling on domestic journeys.
	Section 14 of the Police and Justice Act 2006 introduced a new power that will allow the police to capture passenger, crew and service information on air and sea journeys within the United Kingdom. The intention is that the power will be brought into force by secondary legislation in 2008. The specific police requirements under this power, which will include details of the routes affected and data required, are still under discussion within Government. Once the proposals have been finalised they will be subject to a 12-week public consultation.
	It is expected that this police power will only apply to air and sea routes between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Passengers will not be required to use passports, but may be required to produce one of several types of documentation, including passports, when travelling, to enable the carrier to the meet the requirements of a police request.

Illegal Immigrants: Employment

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much revenue was received in fines from employers who knowingly gave a job to an illegal immigrant in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006 and  (c) 2007.

Liam Byrne: Under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 it is a criminal offence to employ a person, aged 16 or over, who is subject to immigration control and who is not entitled to work in the UK or to undertake the employment in question. Prosecution statistics for section 8 collated by the Border and Immigration Agency do not distinguish between cases involving employers convicted because they simply failed to carry out specified document checks and those cases in which employers were found knowingly to have acted in contravention of the 1996 Act and lost their statutory defence against conviction.
	Information is available on total fines imposed by the courts following conviction for the section 8 offence. In 2006, the total amount imposed in fines by the courts under section 8 was 25,570. In 2007 (up to and including 30 November 2007), the total amount imposed by the courts was 41,623. The Border and Immigration Agency's crime management information database was established on 1 April 2006 and figures from before this date are not available. These figures represent management information which is updated on a daily basis and may be subject to change. These figures represent prosecutions instigated by investigators in the Enforcement and Compliance Directorate of the Border and Immigration Agency only.

Illegal Immigrants: Employment

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants have been found to be employed by her Department in 2007.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 11 December 2007
	 I informed the House17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 966Wthat, as a result of prioritised enforcement action undertaken by the Border and Immigration Agency with respect to the Security Industry, one member of staff employed by a sub-contractor providing services to the Department was identified as not having the right to work within the United Kingdom. This person was immediately detained and has since been deported.
	As a result of this discovery, the permanent secretary ordered a review of the immigration status and entitlement to work in the United Kingdom of over 30,000 people employed by and contracted to the Department.
	This review will be completed by the end of February 2008.

Immigration Controls

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for which compliance offences by sponsors of migrants her Department plans to seek  (a) civil penalties and  (b) prosecution.

Liam Byrne: The employment of an illegal migrant worker who does not have leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, or is not permitted to undertake the employment in question, may make an employer liable for payment of a civil penalty or prosecution under the new measures in the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, which will come into force on 29 February 2008. The law on preventing illegal migrant working in the United Kingdom (UK) applies to all UK employers, whether or not they are licensed to sponsor migrant workers.
	Employers who are on the points based system register of licensed sponsors will face alternative sanctions for failing to comply with their responsibilities, as set out in the statement of intent for sponsorship under the points based system. For instance, non-compliant sponsors may and in some cases must have their licence withdrawn or downgraded from being an A-rated sponsor to being a rated sponsor. If an employer who is also a sponsor is found to have employed illegal migrants that will be taken into account in reviewing their sponsorship status.

Immigration Controls

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the number of organisations that are likely to be B-rated when her Department begins to license organisations for the sponsorship of migrant workers; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The criteria for B-rated sponsors have clearly been set out in the Statement of Intent. However, it is not possible to predict accurately sponsor behaviour and hence the number of organisations that will be B-rated.

Immigration: Crime

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were detained for suspected immigration offences in each of the last 10 years.

Liam Byrne: The requested information is not available.
	The Home Office publishes a quarterly snapshot of people detained solely under Immigration Act powers on the last Saturday of each quarter starting from the third quarter of 2001. These data exclude persons detained in police cells and those detained under both criminal and immigration powers.
	Statistics on persons recorded as leaving detention solely under Immigration Act powers during 2005 and between January and September 2006 have also been published.
	The number of prisoners detained awaiting trial for immigration offences is not available because the offences are not recorded centrally to this level of detail.
	Copies of these publications may be found in the quarterly asylum web pages and in the annual statistical bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom and the Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom. Copies of these publications and others relating to general immigration to the UK are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Immigration: Hillingdon

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to remove asylum seekers who have exhausted all appeals in the London Borough of Hillingdon.

Liam Byrne: The removal of asylum seekers who have exhausted all appeals remains a priority for the Border and Immigration Agency across the United Kingdom. We are committed to clearing, by July 2011, the backlog of unresolved electronic and paper asylum records within the Border and Immigration Agency.
	Since 5 March 2007, regional asylum teams have managed all new asylum claims under an end-to-end case ownership process. Asylum case owners in West London are working with all of their local authorities, including Hillingdon, to manage cases through to integration or removal. The asylum teams have a target of 40 per cent. of cases to be concluded within six months by December 2007.

Immigration: Manpower

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the caseworkers for the immigration legacy exercise were recruited and on what basis; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Permanent members of staff deployed as caseworkers in the case resolution directorate of the Border and Immigration Agency have been selected on merit through fair and open competition and in accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code.

Migrant Workers

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks are carried out by her Department into the nationality and immigration status of job applicants before offers of employment are made; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Potential Home Office employees who are UK citizens may demonstrate their identity in a variety of ways in accordance with central guidance promulgated by the Cabinet Office; for example, by presenting a passport, current UK photo driving license or birth certificate. Electronic and paper records held by the Department and its agencies are also used to help validate the evidence supplied by the applicant. Where an applicant is not a UK citizen, the Department undertakes checks to demonstrate that the individual is lawfully in the UK and entitled to work in the UK.

Migrant Workers

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks employers are expected to carry out on the nationality and immigration status of job applicants before offers of employment are made; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Employers are advised to see, copy and retain the copy of specified document(s) belonging to prospective employees that demonstrate that they are entitled to undertake the employment in question. Such action provides a statutory defence against a conviction for the offence of employing an illegal migrant worker under section eight of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. The employer must also satisfy himself that the document(s) belong to the holder.
	Such document(s) are issued or endorsed by the UK Government or issued by another Government and demonstrate that the individual is lawfully in the UK and entitled to undertake the work in question. Some documents, such as a full UK birth certificate, will only provide a statutory defence when produced in combination with other documents such as an appropriately documented permanent national insurance number.
	Employers are advised to undertake these checks on every prospective employee. An individual's race, ethnicity or religion is no indication of their right to work here and employers have a legal duty under race relations legislation to avoid unlawfully discriminating on racial grounds.

Migrants: English Language

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the pass rate was of those taking the  (a) English language test and  (b) Life in the UK test with a view to obtaining UK citizenship in each year since these requirements were introduced; and how many people (i) took and (ii) passed these tests in each year, broken down by nationality.

Liam Byrne: The English Language tests are provided by a variety of further education, adult and community colleges across the UK and information on the numbers taking these courses and the pass rate for these courses is not available.
	The Knowledge of Life (KOL) test was introduced in November 2005 for citizenship applicants. The overall pass rate since the test was introduced is 67.5 per cent. A breakdown of the numbers taking the test for each year with a view to applying for citizenship is as follows:
	During 2005 (October to December), 7,398 took the test, 5,249 passed (71 per cent.) and 2,149 failed.
	During 2006, 155,877 took the test, 105,402 passed (67.6 per cent.) and 50,475 failed.
	During 2007 (January to October) 195,319 took the test, 131,549 passed (67.4 per cent.) and 63,770 failed.
	The aforementioned information is based on the information provided by applicants when taking their test. In April 2007 the Home Office extended the Knowledge of Life test to those applying for settlement in the UK. Some applicants who intended to apply for citizenship may have in error selected settlement as the reason for taking their test.
	The pass rates for different nationalities are set out in the tables placed in the House Library. This information is based on the nationality selected by applicants when taking their test. Some applicants through human error may select the wrong nationality.

Mr. Chanceless Takaruva

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the residency status is of Mr. Chanceless Takaruva and his family, residents of Skelmersdale, West Lancashire (Home Office ref: T1095080).

Liam Byrne: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 287W.

National Asylum Support Service and the Border and Immigration Agency

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) people and  (b) units of accommodation were supported by the National Asylum Support Service and the Border and Immigration Agency in the City of Newcastle through (i) the city as housing provider and (ii) other providers in each quarter of (A) 2005, (B) 2006 and (C) 2007.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 6 December 2007
	 The statistics relating to asylum seekers in receipt of support are published on a quarterly and annual basis. Copies of the reports are available in the House of Commons Library and on the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	Further breakdowns of those in receipt of support from Borders and Immigration Agency, by parliamentary constituency, are also available from the Library of the House.
	The total number of cases supported in accommodation in Newcastle upon Tyne at the end of each of the relevant quarters split between cases accommodated by North East Consortium for Asylum and Refugee Support (NECARS) and by other providers. The City of Newcastle is the consortium provider in Newcastle upon Tyne. These data are in the following table.
	
		
			   Quarter   Other   NECARS 
			   2005   
			 Q1 350 340 
			 Q2 300 320 
			 Q3 260 300 
			 Q4 200 310 
			
			   2006   
			 Q1 140 310 
			 Q2 190 320 
			 Q3 290 390 
			 Q4 300 380 
			
			   2007   
			 Q1 370 350 
			 Q2 410 350 
			 Q3 320 530

Offenders

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted under the Hunting Act 2004 in  (a) 2005 and  (b) 2006, broken down by police force area.

Vernon Coaker: Data showing the number of defendants proceeded against, found guilty, cautioned and fined under the Hunting Act 2004, broken down by police force area, are in the following below table.
	
		
			   Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates1 courts, found guilty at all courts and fined, and the number of offenders cautioned by the police of offences under the Hunting Act 2004, England and Wales, by Police force area(  1,)(  )(  2,)(  )(  3,)(  )(  4) 
			   Police force area   Proceeded against   Found guilty   Fined   Cautioned 
			  
			   2005 
			 Merseyside 1 1 1 1 
			 Northumbria 
			 Thames Valley 2 2 2  
			 Total 3 3 3 1 
			  
			   2006 
			 Cheshire 2 2 2  
			 Durham 1
			 Essex 4 3 3  
			 Humberside 4
			 Total 11 5 5 0 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis.  (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  (3) The Hunting Act 2004 came into force in February 2005.  (4) Where police forces are not listed assume a nil figure.

Offenders: Deportation

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the average cost of returning a non-UK prisoner to serve his or her sentence in their home country.

David Hanson: I have been asked to reply.
	Under existing international prisoner transfer agreements to which the UK is a party, the cost of repatriating a prisoner and his continued detention following transfer is a matter for the state to which the prisoner is transferred.

Offenders: Deportation

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether records are kept or exist of the number of judicial recommendations for deportation of convicted criminals each year.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Her Majesty's Court Service maintains a central database of completed criminal proceedings in the Crown court. This contains a record of judicial recommendations for deportation made in relation to defendants in these proceedings.
	
		
			   D  efendants with judicial recommendations for deportation in the Crown court, 2002-06 
			Number 
			 2002 1,073 
			 2003 889 
			 2004 935 
			 2005 1,439 
			 2006 1,882

Opium: Licensing

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences have been issued for growing poppies for medical purposes; and in which counties growers are licensed.

Vernon Coaker: The growing of opium poppies for medical purposes is not licensed under either international law, via the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, or domestic law, via the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Control arrangements in other growing countries are not known.

Passports: Lost Property

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK passports issued in Belfast were reported as either lost or stolen in 2006.

Meg Hillier: holding answer 7 January 2008
	Of the total processed reports of loss or theft of a British passport in 2006, 15,316 were originally issued by the Belfast office.

Police

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) police officers and  (b) operational police officers per head of population there were in each police authority in England in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			   Police officer strength by police force area, as at 31 March 2003 (FTE)(  1,)(  )(  2) 
			   Police force   Total officers per 100,000 population(  3)   Total operational officers per 100,000 population(  3) 
			   London forces   
			 London, City of * * 
			 Metropolitan Police 404 336 
			
			   Metropolitan forces   
			 Greater Manchester 298 278 
			 Merseyside 302 270 
			 Northumbria 290 264 
			 South Yorkshire 252 221 
			 West Midlands 307 278 
			 West Yorkshire 242 233 
			
			   Shire county forces   
			 Avon and Somerset 213 200 
			 Bedfordshire 198 182 
			 Cambridgeshire 196 166 
			 Cheshire 217 191 
			 Cleveland(4) 294 215 
			 Cumbria 237 228 
			 Derbyshire 210 185 
			 Devon and Cornwall 204 190 
			 Dorset 205 191 
			 Durham 281 251 
			 Essex 186 177 
			 Gloucestershire 219 199 
			 Hampshire 208 196 
			 Hertfordshire 191 177 
			 Humberside 244 232 
			 Kent 221 205 
			 Lancashire 239 221 
			 Leicestershire 232 211 
			 Lincolnshire 191 178 
			 Norfolk 189 176 
			 Northamptonshire 194 183 
			 North Yorkshire 193 182 
			 Nottinghamshire 239 215 
			 Staffordshire(4) 212 190 
			 Suffolk 188 182 
			 Surrey 182 164 
			 Sussex 203 189 
			 Thames Valley 186 168 
			 Warwickshire 198 176 
			 West Mercia 196 163 
			 Wiltshire 190 174 
			
			   Wales forces   
			 Dyfed-Powys 237 221 
			 Gwent 244 226 
			 North Wales 234 220 
			 South Wales 273 253 
			 (1) Full-time equivalent. This figure includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (2) This and other tables contain full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (3) Officers per 100,000 population for City of London and Metropolitan Police are combined. (4) Functional group totals do not match published figures. Data quality may be an issue with this force. 
		
	
	
		
			   Police officer strength by police force area, as at 31 March 2004 (FTE)(  1,)(  )(  2) 
			   Police force   Total officers per 100,000 population(  3)   Total operational officers per 100,000 population(  3) 
			   London forces   
			 London, City of * * 
			 Metropolitan Police 420 351 
			
			   Metropolitan forces   
			 Greater Manchester 323 301 
			 Merseyside 303 269 
			 Northumbria 294 269 
			 South Yorkshire 261 238 
			 West Midlands 311 281 
			 West Yorkshire 254 245 
			
			   Shire county forces   
			 Avon and Somerset 229 216 
			 Bedfordshire 210 195 
			 Cambridgeshire 197 170 
			 Cheshire 224 199 
			 Cleveland 314 269 
			 Cumbria 254 244 
			 Derbyshire 216 194 
			 Devon and Cornwall 208 194 
			 Dorset 209 182 
			 Durham 288 259 
			 Essex 192 182 
			 Gloucestershire 229 209 
			 Hampshire 211 196 
			 Hertfordshire 204 190 
			 Humberside 256 237 
			 Kent 228 213 
			 Lancashire 252 236 
			 Leicestershire 246 228 
			 Lincolnshire 189 177 
			 Norfolk 190 176 
			 Northamptonshire 198 188 
			 North Yorkshire 203 188 
			 Nottinghamshire 245 225 
			 Staffordshire 218 196 
			 Suffolk 196 189 
			 Surrey 183 164 
			 Sussex 206 193 
			 Thames Valley 195 179 
			 Warwickshire 197 176 
			 West Mercia 202 190 
			 Wiltshire 198 184 
			
			   Wales forces   
			 Dyfed-Powys 236 227 
			 Gwent 248 231 
			 North Wales 243 222 
			 South Wales 275 251 
			 (1) Full-time equivalent. This figure includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (2) This and other tables contain full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (3) Officers per 100,000 population for City of London and Metropolitan Police are combined. 
		
	
	
		
			   Police officer strength by police force area, as at 31 March 2005 (FTE)(  1,)(  )(  2) 
			   Police force   Total officers per 100,000 population(  3)   Total operational officers per 100,000 population(  3) 
			   London forces   
			 London, City of * * 
			 Metropolitan Police 433 358 
			
			   Metropolitan forces   
			 Greater Manchester 321 294 
			 Merseyside 318 281 
			 Northumbria 294 279 
			 South Yorkshire 260 235 
			 West Midlands 316 286 
			 West Yorkshire 271 260 
			
			   Shire county forces   
			 Avon and Somerset 225 212 
			 Bedfordshire 215 192 
			 Cambridgeshire 194 165 
			 Cheshire 223 194 
			 Cleveland 305 256 
			 Cumbria 257 247 
			 Derbyshire 213 190 
			 Devon and Cornwall 212 198 
			 Dorset 211 182 
			 Durham 293 260 
			 Essex 198 187 
			 Gloucestershire 230 208 
			 Hampshire 212 191 
			 Hertfordshire 206 195 
			 Humberside 255 232 
			 Kent 227 200 
			 Lancashire(4) 251 236 
			 Leicestershire(5) 246  
			 Lincolnshire 185 174 
			 Norfolk 192 174 
			 Northamptonshire 201 192 
			 North Yorkshire 206 188 
			 Nottinghamshire 245 229 
			 Staffordshire 220 198 
			 Suffolk 195 188 
			 Surrey 184 157 
			 Sussex 205 186 
			 Thames Valley 198 179 
			 Warwickshire 195 183 
			 West Mercia 203 189 
			 Wiltshire 198 182 
			
			   Wales forces   
			 Dyfed-Powys 237 217 
			 Gwent 259 240 
			 North Wales(5) 250  
			 South Wales 273 249 
			 (1) Full-time equivalent. This figure includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (2) This and other tables contain full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (3) Officers per 100,000 population for City of London and Metropolitan Police are combined. (4) Functional group totals do not match published figures. Data quality may be an issue with this force. (5) Force was not able to provide data on functional groups. 
		
	
	
		
			   Police officer strength by police force area, as at 31 March 2006 (FTE)(  1,)(  )(  2) 
			   Police force   Total officers per 100,000 population(  3)   Total operational officers per 100,000 population(  3) 
			   London forces   
			 London, City of * * 
			 Metropolitan Police 417 341 
			
			   Metropolitan forces   
			 Greater Manchester 318 288 
			 Merseyside 315 276 
			 Northumbria 291 276 
			 South Yorkshire 259 237 
			 West Midlands 318 288 
			 West Yorkshire 270 261 
			
			   Shire county forces   
			 Avon and Somerset 226 213 
			 Bedfordshire 213 194 
			 Cambridgeshire 196 162 
			 Cheshire 223 195 
			 Cleveland 308 231 
			 Cumbria 256 232 
			 Derbyshire 212 190 
			 Devon and Cornwall 219 201 
			 Dorset 216 186 
			 Durham 288 250 
			 Essex 203 192 
			 Gloucestershire 228 206 
			 Hampshire 211 189 
			 Hertfordshire 208 197 
			 Humberside 251 231 
			 Kent 227 195 
			 Lancashire 253 235 
			 Leicestershire 241 221 
			 Lincolnshire 183 172 
			 Norfolk 193 175 
			 Northamptonshire 207 191 
			 North Yorkshire 216 200 
			 Nottinghamshire 243 228 
			 Staffordshire 219 195 
			 Suffolk 191 185 
			 Surrey 184 155 
			 Sussex 207 187 
			 Thames Valley 202 178 
			 Warwickshire 198 187 
			 West Mercia 202 187 
			 Wiltshire 196 177 
			
			   Wales forces   
			 Dyfed-Powys 237 215 
			 Gwent 264 244 
			 North Wales 242 223 
			 South Wales 271 243 
			 (1 )Full-time equivalent. This figure includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (2 )This and other tables contain full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (3) Officers per 100,000 population for City of London and Metropolitan Police are combined. 
		
	
	
		
			   Police officer strength by police force area, as at 31 March 2007 (FTE)(  1,)(  )(  2) 
			   Police force   Total officers per 100,000 population(  3)   Total operational officers per 100,000 population(  3) 
			   London forces   
			 London, City of * * 
			 Metropolitan Police(4) 426 328 
			
			   Metropolitan forces   
			 Greater Manchester 314 285 
			 Merseyside 325 294 
			 Northumbria 283 269 
			 South Yorkshire 256 235 
			 West Midlands 318 285 
			 West Yorkshire(5) 270  
			
			   Shire county forces   
			 Avon and Somerset 224 205 
			 Bedfordshire 207 189 
			 Cambridgeshire 187 155 
			 Cheshire 225 204 
			 Cleveland 315 233 
			 Cumbria 255 235 
			 Derbyshire 209 189 
			 Devon and Cornwall 216 198 
			 Dorset(4) 217 191 
			 Durham 285 256 
			 Essex(4) 203 196 
			 Gloucestershire 229 205 
			 Hampshire 215 191 
			 Hertfordshire 210 198 
			 Humberside 251 233 
			 Kent 229 198 
			 Lancashire 252 233 
			 Leicestershire 237 217 
			 Lincolnshire 183 171 
			 Norfolk 191 175 
			 Northamptonshire 200 183 
			 North Yorkshire 217 198 
			 Nottinghamshire 235 222 
			 Staffordshire(4) 219 202 
			 Suffolk 196 189 
			 Surrey(4) 183 161 
			 Sussex 205 184 
			 Thames Valley 199 170 
			 Warwickshire 199 187 
			 West Mercia 205 189 
			 Wiltshire 192 168 
			
			   Wales forces   
			 Dyfed-Powys 236 213 
			 Gwent 268 249 
			 North Wales 238 219 
			 South Wales 273 245 
			 (1) Full-time equivalent. This figure includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (2) This and other tables contain full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (3) Officers per 100,000 population for City of London and Metropolitan Police are combined. (4) Functional group totals do not match published figures. Data quality may be an issue with this force. (5) Force was not able to provide data on functional groups.

Police

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 26 February 2007, Official Report, columns 1056-60W and 1072-6W, on police, if she will provide figures for 2007.

Tony McNulty: The management of the police estate and allocation of resources are matters for each police authority and the chief officer, who are responsible for assessing local needs.
	Latest published statistics on police officer numbers can be found in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin (no.13/07) Police Service Strength, England and Wales, 31 March 2007. A copy has been placed in the Library. It is also available on the Home Office website at:
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/hosb1307.pdf

Police

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces use mobile police stations; if she will take steps to require such forces to provide more  (a) officers on the beat and  (b) high speed police cars; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The management of the police estate and allocation of resources are matters for each police authority and the chief officer, who are responsible for assessing local needs.

Police

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of police posts which have been civilianised in  (a) Northamptonshire and  (b) England since the publication of Building Communities, Beating Crime in November 2004.

Tony McNulty: Between September 2004 (the nearest date to the White Paper Building Communities, Beating Crime) and March 2007 police officer numbers in Northamptonshire increased by 17 (+1.3 per cent.) to 1,281. For England officer numbers have increased during the same period by 1,617 (+1.2 per cent.) to 132,474.

Police Stations: Closures

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations closed in  (a) Suffolk and  (b) the east of England in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The management of the police estate and allocation of resources are matters for each police authority and the chief officer, who are responsible for assessing local needs.

Police: Expenditure

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will rank police forces in order of expenditure per thousand population in each police force area.

Tony McNulty: Police expenditure is determined by each authority within funding by grant and council tax. Government general grant is determined by formula which takes account of a number of factors, not just population.
	Information on police authority expenditure and population are set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Police authority total gross revenue expenditure and population 2007-08 
			   Police authority   Total gross revenue expenditure (000)   Police estimate at June 2007 (  T  housand) 
			 Avon and Somerset 281,069 1 ,546,800 
			 Bedfordshire 103,959 582,600 
			 Cambridgeshire 128,665 732,900 
			 Cheshire 187,702 1,000,400 
			 City of London 86,884 327,200 
			 Cleveland 138,836 546,700 
			 Cumbria 112,257 502,700 
			 Derbyshire 172,336 989,300 
			 Devon and Cornwall 288,259 1,629,400 
			 Dorset 127,657 709,700 
			 Durham 129,388 599,000 
			 Dyfed-Powys 98,342 504,500 
			 Essex 289,052 1,665,000 
			 Gloucestershire 115,575 577,400 
			 Greater Manchester 612,035 2,547,700 
			 Gwent 122,204 555,200 
			 Hampshire 324,382 1,800,000 
			 Hertfordshire 192,476 1,056,700 
			 Humberside 182,196 887,500 
			 Kent 316,396 1,634,400 
			 Lancashire 287,976 1,451,800 
			 Leicestershire 177,979 950,000 
			 Lincolnshire 108,166 696,500 
			 Merseyside 355,662 1,355,000 
			 Metropolitan Police 3,341,236 7,500,000 
			 Norfolk 156,716 833,700 
			 North Wales 145,150 674,000 
			 North Yorkshire 147,613 768,700 
			 Northamptonshire 124,424 658,200 
			 Northumbria 317,695 1,385,100 
			 Nottinghamshire 205,545 1,038,300 
			 South Wales 268,595 1,224,500 
			 South Yorkshire 264,662 1,285,600 
			 Staffordshire 191,039 1,050,700 
			 Suffolk 115,994 692,100 
			 Surrey 205,514 1,083,500 
			 Sussex 291,233 1,517,400 
			 Thames Valley 394,881 2,152,000 
			 Warwickshire 94,891 534,500 
			 West Mercia 208,807 1,191,700 
			 West Midlands 600,058 2,590,000 
			 West Yorkshire 465,867 2,125,000 
			 Wiltshire 112,539 630,600 
			   Source:  CIPFA Police Statistics 2007-08 Estimates

Police: Firearms

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances and on whose authority police officers may use hollow-point dum-dum bullets; what assessment she has made of whether use of such bullets is compatible with the UK's international obligations; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: It is for chief officers to decide what ammunition and weapons are appropriate to use in order to meet their own operational requirements, subject to the general law that use of force by the police must be reasonable in the circumstances.

Police: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been in post in the London Borough of Havering since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: While the Home Office has collected police officer data at police force area level since 1997, it only started collecting police officer data at a more local level, namely police basic command units (BCUs), in 2003. For this reason we can only provide figures for Havering (a Metropolitan police BCU) from 2003, and they appear in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of police officers in the London borough of Havering: 2003-07 
			   As at 31 March each year   Police officers (FTE)(  1) 
			 2003 340 
			 2004 343 
			 2005 383 
			 2006 380 
			 2007 383 
			 (1) All figures are full-time equivalents (FTE) rounded to the nearest whole number.

Police: ICT

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department  (a) how many and  (b) what percentage of (i) police stations and (ii) police forces had livescan units, in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: Information relating to the number, and the percentage, of police forces with Livescan in each year since 2001 is available and is contained in the following table:
	
		
			Number of police forces with Livescan   Percentage of police forces with Livescan 
			 2001 17 39.50 
			 2002 31 72 
			 2003 33 76.70 
			 2004 35 81.40 
			 2005 35 81.40 
			 2006 43 100 
			 2007 43 100

Police: ICT

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the  (a) reliability and  (b) effectiveness of headcam technology in tackling crime; if she will make resources available to make this technology more widely available to the police; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: A number of police forces have participated in trialling head cam (or 'body-worn video device') technology. This exercise was completed in April 2007 and a report, capturing the learning from the trials and providing other advice, was made available to the police service in July 2007.
	In addition, all police forces will benefit from a 3 million Government investment in the current financial year for the procurement of 'body- worn video device' devices. This is in recognition of the potential for delivering operational and efficiency gains associated with this kind of technology. The wider roll-out of this body-worn video technology will be fully evaluated later this year.

Police: Manpower

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 2 May 1997 her Department has issued a correction to police numbers statistics.

Tony McNulty: No official records are kept of all corrections to police numbers statistics since 1997. Corrections are however rare and usually occur only after corrected data have been supplied from individual forces. If corrections of errors are required the National Statistics protocols on errors and revisions are followed.
	Where the error is significant, in that the resultant change would qualify or contradict the conclusions that would previously have been drawn from the data, the protocols would require that Home Office would amend the electronic version of the release as soon as possible and include a prominent alert on the website to notify users of the change.
	On only one occasion since 1997 has a significant error occurred to police numbers statistics. The statistical bulletin on Police Service Strength in England and Wales for 30 September 2000 was re-printed after one large police force notified the Home Office of large corrections to its officer numbers. This was enough to affect the direction of the national trend. At the time, the bulletin was not produced electronically, but the correction was highlighted on the front page and a re-printed version issued to all subscribers, including the media.

Police: Private Finance Initiative

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many police authorities have been provided with private finance initiative (PFI) credits for new buildings and major refurbishments; what the capital value of each such project is; how many new buildings are proposed within each project; and at what stage they are in the PFI procurement process;
	(2)  which private finance initiative projects are  (a) under way and  (b) under consideration in each police force area in England and Wales.

Tony McNulty: The following table lists all forces that have Home Office supported PFI projects either operationally in use or in construction.
	
		
			   Police force   Project   Equivalent capital cost ( million)   Current status   Number of new buildings   Number of refurbished buildings 
			 Cheshire Force headquarters 35 Operational 1 0 
			 Cheshire Centralised custody suites 17 Operational 3 0 
			 Cleveland Action stations 29 Operational 4 0 
			 Cleveland and Durham Firearms facility 6 Operational 1 0 
			 Cumbria Workington police station 5 Operational 1 0 
			 Derbyshire Ilkeston police station 3 Operational 1 0 
			 Derbyshire Divisional HQ and city police station 16.4 Operational 2 0 
			 Dorset Divisional HQ and 3 new police stations 15 Operational 7 1 
			 Dorset Dorset Emergency Services Partnership Initiative 40 In construction 3 0 
			 Dyfed Powys Ammanford police station 8 Operational 1 0 
			 Gloucestershire Force headquarters 17 Operational 1 0 
			 Greater Manchester Property ReviewDivisional/Sub Divisional HQ and police stations 60 Operational 16 0 
			 Gwent Ystrad Mynach Police Station 6 Operational 1  
			 Kent Divisional headquartersMedway 22 Operational 1 0 
			 Kent Divisional headquartersNorth Kent 32 In construction 1 0 
			 Norfolk Headquarters, Operations and Communications Centre 23 Operational 6 0 
			 Norfolk and Suffolk Custody services  Developing Final Business Case   
			 North Wales Divisional headquarters and Major Incident Unit 15 Operational 3 0 
			 Northumbria Mounted facilities 1 Operational 1 0 
			 Nottinghamshire Traffic Wing and Vehicles Services 20 Operational 2 0 
			 Sussex Centralised custody suites 17 Operational 4 1 
			 Thames Valley Abingdon Area divisional headquarters 8 Operational 1 0 
			 Wiltshire Divisional headquarters and satellite facilities 19.6 Operational 1 0 
			 Wiltshire Air support 3 Operational   
			   Note:  Three other forces are developing Outline Business Cases.

Police: Vehicles

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pedestrians have been hit by police vehicles in each of the last five years; how many of these incidents have been investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission and what the conclusions were of each investigation.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 9 January 2008
	Responsibility for the collation and publication of studies and statistics relating to road traffic incidents involving police vehicles rests with the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Police: Volunteers

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has taken to support volunteers who work for the police, with special reference to staffing police stations.

Tony McNulty: Non-uniformed volunteers make a very useful contribution to the work of the regular police service in that they are able to undertake a multitude of tasks which help free officers for frontline operational duties. They can often bring with them a range of specialist and unique skills that may not be readily available, for example, knowledge of forensic accountancy in the context of fraud investigations.
	There are a number of initiatives in place to support the work of police volunteer support staff who help to staff police stations. This includes the provision of best practice guidance and awards in recognition of outstanding achievement. There are currently around 3,000 non-uniformed volunteers, and it is envisaged that this number will increase through a marketing and awareness campaign.
	The Special Constabulary is staffed by volunteers, but is not used to staff police stations.

Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many seasonal agricultural workers scheme permit-holders are believed to have defaulted and failed to return at the end of the permit period in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 15 November 2007
	 : The information requested is not available.
	All allegations of employment abuse are treated seriously.

Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will ensure that the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme continues to recognise the distinction between migrants entering the UK and students gaining work experience in this country as part of their higher education courses before returning to their countries of origin.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 19 November 2007
	 From 2008, the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme will make no distinction between migrants entering the UK and students gaining work experience.
	This distinction has been removed in order to ensure that while applications are accepted only from Romania and Bulgaria, in line with our obligations under EU law, there is a sufficient labour pool for SAWS operators to meet the SAWS quota.
	In 2007, only 40 per cent. of the SAWS quota need be filled by applications from Romanian and Bulgarian workers, recognising the commitments some operators had made prior to announcement of the decision to restrict access to the scheme. In 2008, the SAWS quota will be 16,250, and applications will only be accepted from Romania and Bulgaria.

Written Questions

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to answer question 162141, tabled by the hon. Member for Hertsmere on 6 November, on non-EU citizens.

Liam Byrne: I answered the hon. Members' previous question on 11 December 2007,  Official Report, column 481W.

Written Questions

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to answer question 162345, tabled by the hon. Member for Hertsmere on 6 November, on the Worker Registration Scheme.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 11 December 2007,  Official Report, column 481W.

Written Questions

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to answer question 162352, tabled by the hon. Member for Hertsmere on 6 November, on highly skilled workers.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 8 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 453-54W.

Written Questions

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to answer question 162672, tabled by the hon. Member for Hertsmere on 6 November, on highly skilled migrants.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 11 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 481-84W.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa: Overseas Aid

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what funding his Department has allocated to support food aid programmes in developing African countries in the last five years.
	(2)  what funding his Department has allocated to provide safe, clean drinking water in developing African countries in the last five years;
	(3)  what funding his Department has allocated to support skills training in developing African countries in the last five years;
	(4)  what funding his Department has allocated to support AIDS and HIV education and prevention programmes in developing African countries in the last five years;
	(5)  what funding his Department has allocated to support health improvement programmes in developing African countries in the last five years;
	(6)  what funding his Department has allocated to support education programmes in developing African countries in the last five years;
	(7)  what funding his Department has allocated to support the development of agriculture in developing African countries in the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: Details on the amount of DFID's bilateral expenditure in Africa spent directly in each sector over the last five years are shown in the following table. The data are not mutually exclusive.
	
		
			   Table 1: DFID bilateral expenditure in Africa, by sector, 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			millions 
			2002-03   2003-04   2004-05   2005-06   2006-07 
			 Total bilateral expenditure 740.7 711.8 868.0 1,139.8 1,135.0 
			 Food aid and security 93.6 53.6 35.2 65.6 33.8 
			 Water and sanitation 4.3 4.2 4.5 10.8 23.3 
			 Skills development 9.2 9.8 9.4 14.0 16.3 
			 Health 122.2 133.2 173.2 199.8 221.1 
			 Education 104.9 106.5 125.5 136.3 157.3 
			 Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 37.7 37.3 41.0 34.0 31.2 
			 HIV and AIDS 92.8 112.0 133.5 170.3 171.5 
		
	
	These data do not include funding in Africa delivered through DFID's multilateral assistance.

African Caribbean and Pacific Countries: EC External Trade

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when his Department's website will be updated in relation to the conclusion of economic partnership agreements by the 31 December 2007 deadline.  [Official Report, 16 January 2008, Vol. 470, c. 12MC.]

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development's website pages on Economic Partnership Agreements were updated on 10 December 2007 and again on 14 January 2008.

Departmental Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire's letter, dated 22 November 2007, on the Kenyan government.

Shahid Malik: The reply to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire's letter of 22 November 2007 has been issued.

Departmental Cost Effectiveness

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what efficiency savings projects his Department put in place under the Spending Review 2004 targets; on what date each was initiated; how much each was expected to contribute to the target; how much was saved by each; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The answers to the following parts of the above question are contained in the reply given to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) on 30 October 2007,  Official Report, column 1062W:
	(i) the efficiency savings projects DFID put in place under the Spending Review 2004 targets;
	(ii) the date each was initiated; and
	(iii) how much each was expected to contribute to the target.
	The savings generated by each component of the target are as follows:
	
		
			million 
			   Efficiency component   Cumulative savings by end of 2005-06   Cumulative savings by end of 2006-07 
			 Increase the percentage of our country programmes spent on programme-based approaches (the target savings for this action to produce by March 2008 is 111 million) 13 15 
			 Increase value for money from procurement (target 10 million) 6 6 
			 Improve our bilateral project performance (target 173 million) 73 298 
			 Increase our contribution to low income countries through EC aid (target 31 million) 21 27 
			 Increase our support to the International Development Association (target 75 million) 0 62 
			 Reduce our administration costs (20 million) 0 17 
			 Total 113 425 
		
	
	The administrative cost category includes targets to reduce UK-based full-time staff to 1,610 by March 2008 (from 1,907 in March 2004) and a target to relocate 85 posts from the London office to East Kilbride. We have already exceeded our relocation target and by the second quarter of 2007-08 we had reduced our headcount by 232 UK-based full-time equivalent posts (our target by end March 2008 is 297).
	On the basis of efficiencies realised by the end of 2006-07 and the current rate of progress in 2007-08 we are on course to exceed our efficiency target of 420 million of sustainable efficiencies by the end of 2007-08. A further update on progress in 2007-08 will be provided in the forthcoming Autumn Performance Report.

Departmental Recycling

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recycling schemes are in operation in each building operated by his Department.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development has recycling schemes in place at both UK offices. All paper, aluminium cans, paper cups and cardboard are segregated in house and transported to the waste depot where the contractor further separates the mixed general waste. IT equipment and furniture is given to charitable organisations.
	During 2004-05 DFID changed waste contractors at both buildings. The new waste contractors guarantee they will recycle at least 75 per cent. of all our waste and they provide monthly environmental reports with detailed breakdowns of the various waste streams. Hazardous waste such as fluorescent tubes is stored securely and uplifted by specialist waste contractors.

Developing Countries: Health

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when his Department will respond to Lord Crisp's Report of February 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: We have worked closely with other Government Departments, in particular with the Department of Health, and with civil society and professional groups to consider the recommendations of Lord Crisp's report. The Government's response to Lord Crisp's report will be issued shortly by the Inter-Ministerial Group. The response will provide a basis for taking forward those areas of work likely to be most useful in making a sustained difference to helping meet the health needs of developing countries.

Developing Countries: Overseas Aid

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of his Department's budget was spent on budget support for developing countries through  (a) bilateral,  (b) multilateral,  (c) trust fund and  (d) other arrangements in each of the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: The following table shows what percentage of DFID bilateral poverty reduction budget support (PRBS) was delivered directly to partner governments and through trust funds over the last five years, and what proportion of DFID's total programme this represents.
	
		
			   Table 1: Proportion of DFID's total programme delivered as bilateral PRBS, 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			   Percentage 
			Total DFID bilateral PRBS   Total delivered direct to partner governments   Total delivered through trust funds 
			 2002-03 6.2 6.2  
			 2003-04 7.8 7.6 0.3 
			 2004-05 8.9 8.4 0.5 
			 2005-06 10.6 10.1 0.4 
			 2006-07 9.4 8.0 1.4 
		
	
	While some multilateral organisations report the proportion of their programmes delivered as general budget support, they do not report the proportion delivered as sector budget support. As such, an imputed multilateral share for PRBS cannot be calculated.

Disasters Emergency Committee: Agriculture

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will hold discussions with the Disasters Emergency Committee on widening its membership to include representatives of those working with livestock and animal welfare in emergencies in developing countries; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: Membership of the Disasters Emergency Committee, which is independent of Government, is a matter for the Committee. Its purpose is to provide humanitarian relief in overseas disasters. This can and does include help with livestock for the purpose of protecting human life, welfare and livelihoods.

Economic Partnership Agreements

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the timescale is for upgrading interim Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) to full EPAs.

Gareth Thomas: Of the six interim Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA); four include commitments to conclude a full EPA by 31 December 2008, these are the East African Community, the Pacific, West Africa and Central Africa. The East and Southern Africa EPA aims to conclude a full EPA by 31 July 2009 and the Southern African EPA includes commitments to complete negotiations on services and investment by 31 December 2008 but will only continue negotiations on competition and public procurement when adequate capacity has been built in the region.

Economic Partnership Agreements

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of the countries which have signed an interim economic partnership agreement have expressed an interest in including the Singapore terms in any future agreement.

Gareth Thomas: All of the current Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signatory countries have agreed to work towards concluding a comprehensive EPA including trade related areas to which the Singapore issues belong. The Caribbean EPA already includes provisions on investment, competition, public procurement and trade facilitation. The Southern Africa, West Africa, Central Africa and Pacific EPAs all include immediate provisions on trade facilitation. The remaining Singapore issues are covered by commitments to negotiate in the future by all parties.

Economic Partnership Agreements

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what safeguard clauses exist to protect African, Caribbean and Pacific producers from import surges in those countries who have concluded an Economic Partnership Agreement.

Gareth Thomas: All of the signed Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) contain safeguard clauses which provide the EPA signatory countries with the means to protect their industries where a high volume of imports from the EU looks likely to threaten it. These safeguard measures can include an increase in customs duties and/or the introduction of tariff quotas on the products concerned. These safeguards can be introduced where the EU imports are of such volume that they threaten serious injury to the industry producing like or directly competitive products, or where the imports could cause disturbances to a sector of the economy resulting in social problems or a deterioration of the economy. All of the EPAs also contain clauses to protect infant industries, where a high volume of EU imports could threaten an emerging industry producing like or directly competitive products.

Economic Partnership Agreements

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what monitoring and review mechanisms exist as part of the economic partnership agreements to enable countries to make their own assessment of the impact of the agreements.

Gareth Thomas: The specific texts of the agreements and council conclusions approved in November 2007 underpin the EU's commitment to ensure that the implementation of EPAs is properly monitored. We expect the arrangements for each regional review mechanism to take shape over the next few months following further consultation and planning between EU and ACP officials.
	The UK pushed strongly at the November General Affairs and External Relations Council to ensure that the conclusions' language on monitoring and review mechanisms reflected a focus on assessing the development impact of EPAs with emphasis on inclusive, participatory processes. In 2008 we will explore with other European partners how to ensure adequate national ownership, capacity and resources for effective monitoring and review mechanisms. We are also in the process of preparing specific initiatives, such as support planned to strengthen monitoring through improved statistical capacity in the Caribbean.

Economic Partnership Agreements

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what measures his Department has put in place to assess the effect on those countries which did not conclude an economic partnership agreement by the 31 December 2007 deadline;
	(2)  what measures his Department has put in place to make an impact assessment for those countries that have signed  (a) a full economic partnership agreement and  (b) an interim arrangement.

Gareth Thomas: We recognise it is crucial to assess the economic, social and other impacts of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) on the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries which have signed up to them. Over the course of 2007, as part of ongoing plans to strengthen the content and use of impact assessmentwe have had discussions with the European Commission and others, particularly on improving the Sustainability Impact Assessments which the Commission is obliged to carry out for trade-related agreements (including EPAs).
	Following the launch of both the full and interim EPAs, early work is now underway within DFID and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to review the content of the agreements and assess how they will work for development. We are working through our offices in the ACP regions, consulting with ACP governments to ascertain their views on the impact of EPAs. In the Caribbean, we are in the process of planning some focused analytical work to identify the constraints and opportunities afforded by EPAs as part of our broader engagement on regional economic integration in the area. More broadly, we will be monitoring the development of the EPA review mechanisms due to be set up in each region. Terms of reference have not yet been developed for these mechanisms but we are investigating opportunities for development partners to be involved and will be working with EU partners, including the Commission on how to ensure national ownership, capacity and resources to ensure their and effectiveness and sustainability.

Economic Partnership Agreements

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the EU will ensure that agricultural exports are duty and tariff free in accordance with the terms of the interim economic partnership agreements.

Gareth Thomas: On the 20 December, EU Ministers agreed a Regulation which provides all ACP countries which had brought forward WTO compatible market access offers by 31 December 2007, with duty free quota free access for all products being imported into the EU. This Regulation is the legal means by which the duty free quota free market access offer is to be realised and provides an instruction to all EU Governments to allow the qualifying ACP country to export goods to the EU duty and quota free. The EU member state's customs authorities would then update their import entry database. Upon presentation of the appropriate documentation (in this case an EUR1 certificate) from the exporter, which will have been obtained from the Export Issuing Authority in the originating country, proving they are entitled to EPA rates, the products will be given entry into the EU country duty and quota free.

Economic Partnership Agreements

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the expected gains are for the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries from the duty and quota free offer from the EU following the EU's change in rules of origin; and whether any further modifications are anticipated.

Gareth Thomas: Changes in rules of origin for those countries which have signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) will primarily benefit those with textile, clothing and fisheries industries where there have been significant relaxations. These industries will now be able to sell more of their products to the EU under the preferential arrangements, where before they would have been excluded. Further changes to rules of origin for the EPA countries are possible as it is open to these countries to request areas for further relaxation. The form that these changes will take will depend on the negotiations which take place in the coming year.

English Language

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on English language classes for staff in the last year for which figures are available.

Shahid Malik: English language training for staff appointed in country (SAIC) is encouraged in many DFID offices, particularly where English is not the most common second language. For example, DFID Rwanda successfully recently ran English language lessons for SAIC, one at basic level and one at intermediate level.
	It is not possible to break down our training costs, to provide the amounts spent on English language training, without incurring a disproportionate cost.

HIV Infection: Medical Treatments

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to support national governments to encourage the provision of co-trimoxazole to all HIV-exposed children  (a) as a prophylaxis and  (b) for the treatment of opportunistic infections; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: Preventing and treating opportunistic infections are vital components of caring for and treating people, including children, living with HIV. A UK-supported trial in Zambia has shown that providing cotrimoxazole to children with HIV reduced mortality by as much as 43 per cent.
	DFID is in the forefront of strengthening health systems and improving access to essential drugs. Cotrimoxazole is on the World Health Organisation's essential drugs list and interventions that improve availability of essential drugs will improve access to it. Essential drugs are intended to be available within the context of functioning health systems at all times in adequate amounts, in the appropriate dosage forms, with assured quality and at a price the individual and the community can afford.
	DFID is also working with governments to strengthen their distribution systems for essential drugs. In Zambia we are working with the World Bank to develop a pilot for innovative ways to improve delivery in the public distribution system.

HIV Infection: Overseas Aid

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make it his policy to earmark at least 10 per cent. of his Department's HIV and AIDS funding for children affected by HIV in the new HIV and AIDS Strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: 'Taking Action: the UK's strategy for tackling HIV and AIDS in the developing world', included the commitment to spend at least 150 million on supporting orphans and vulnerable children, out of a total commitment to spend 1.5 billion on tackling HIV and AIDS over the 2005-08 period. We are currently updating 'Taking Action'. The needs and rights of children affected by AIDS will remain a UK priority when the updated strategy is published this year.

Kenya: Financial Institutions

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to support microfinance institutions during the political disturbances in Kenya.

Douglas Alexander: Since January 2005 the UK has supported Kenyan microfinance institutions through the multi-donor funded Financial Sector Deepening Trust (19 million in total since inception) that aims to increase access to financial services for the poor. The trust is an independent entity overseen by a multi-stakeholder board. The trust is currently exploring setting up an emergency facility for the industry to help microfinance institutions assist in the recovery efforts in Kenya.

Kenya: Overseas Aid

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what changes the Government plan to make to the DFID-Kenya country programme following recent events in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: In 2007-08 DFID provided 50 million in aid to Kenya. The UK's aid programme in Kenya is directed largely at supporting health, education and social protection for poor Kenyans, and at improving governance in the country; any suspension of the programme would inevitably have a direct and immediate negative impact on the poorest people. It is too early to make decisions about any long-term impact on our aid programme, but we are keeping the programme under review to make sure that it continues to best meet the needs of the poorest Kenyans.
	The size and content of the future programme will reflect the extent to which political differences can be resolved and the extent to which we can have an effective development relationship with whatever government emerges from the current crisis.
	The DFID team in Kenya are monitoring the humanitarian situation closely. We have contributed 1 million to an appeal by the Red Cross and will provide additional support if needed.

Mott MacDonald

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in what UK aid projects Mott MacDonald have participated in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The contracts awarded by the Department for International Development to Mott MacDonald are listed in the following table for the period April 1997 to March 2007. All contracts were awarded following standard procurement procedures. The main focus of Mott MacDonald's involvement with DFID has been in relation to the delivery of development projects to help country governments and partners to reduce poverty.
	These figures do not include lower-value contracts issued by DFID's overseas offices, which could be obtained only by incurring disproportionate cost. Those showing a zero value are framework agreements, which allow individual contracts to be called down as required.
	
		
			   Contract/project title   Country   Value () 
			 Sichuan urban environment project China 749,642 
			 Electrical power study Montserrat 33,571 
			 Montserratemergency fuel facilitiesassessment of development option Montserrat 13,478 
			 Specialist advisory support for the Jiangyin suspension bridge project China 1,237,108 
			 Betacopoverview study of the final requirementsthe rehabilitation of the high voltage transmission system Bosnia 249,944 
			 Appraisal mission Tanesco diesel stations maintenance Tanzania 9,410 
			 Environmental management and compliance monitoring Belize 52,280 
			 Road sector: objective evaluation for bio-engineering Nepal 48,616 
			 Left bank outfall drain special studies Pakistan 146,168 
			 Preparation of Betacop Bosnia 21,412 
			 St. Petersburg water: institutional development plan Russia 3,468 
			 Bridges for feeder roads Ghana 7,167 
			 Consultancy to assist marine safety improvement project Philippines 308,508 
			 Betacop preparations transmission systems: initial overflow and flow modelling Bosnia 36,331 
			 Recruitment of short-term consultancy sub-station specialist Bosnia 42,714 
			 Airstrip feasibility study Montserrat 43,076 
			 St. Petersburg water implementation programme for corporate development support project Russia 25,211 
			 Review of Scada project Bangladesh 22,988 
			 Water sector development programmedesign phase China 185,430 
			 Emergency assessment of Sri Salem power station India 12,461 
			 Betsup joint power co-ordination centre: stage ii institutional support Bosnia 58,655 
			 Montserrat LPG study Global (non project specific) 31,250 
			 MontserratCarrs Bay fuel depot Montserrat 21,300 
			 DFID response to world commission on dams United Kingdom 3,511 
			 Overseas territories global environment facility Global (non project specific) 25,915 
			 Provision of professional advice and specialist human resources Global (non project specific) 0 
			 Northern environmental management and rehabilitation project Kazakhstan 64,208 
			 Strengthening capacity in environmental project development Romania 607,917 
			 Study on private sector participation in tertiary level service delivery of water and sanitation United Kingdom 44,947 
			 Strengthening capacity in environmental project preparation Czech Republic 26,812 
			 Assistance to china water law review China 241,206 
			 Supporting municipal decision making on private sector involvement in the provision of water and waste Romania 144,604 
			 Consultant support scoping exercise development capacity in Kavre district development Nepal 7,667 
			 Sewage collection treatment and disposal consultancyphase 1 St. Helena 23,804 
			 Advice to infrastructure and urban development dept in the engineering sector Global (non project specific) 0 
			 Water resources demand management China 5,948,667 
			 Emergency infrastructure project. Iraq 4,059,619 
			 Water and sanitation advisor Iraq 143,180 
			 Review of DFID support to the international programme for technology research in irrigation and drainage Non specific country 15,995 
			 Water sector programme interim asset development team leader Guyana 386,965 
			 Restructuring of the water department Anguilla 70,216 
			 Southern Iraq employment and services programme Iraq 529,544 
			 Paper on provision of infrastructure services in post conflict situations United Kingdom 14,994 
			 Support towards reviewing petroleum energy supply system Zambia 8,051 
			 Tsunami water supply strategy (advisor) Indonesia 30,810 
			 Construction sector transparency initiative design consultancy United Kingdom 82,247 
			 Project completion review and report for district maintenance offices capacity building programme Ethiopia 10,133